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Castillo to get left side soreness checked out

Red Sox outfielder goes 1-for-3 in '15 debut

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Rusney Castillo, who is in competition with Mookie Betts to be the starting center fielder for the Red Sox, suffered what the club hopes is a minor injury in Tuesday's 1-0 exhibition victory over Boston College at JetBlue Park.

"Rusney, in his last at-bat, he felt some soreness in his left side, so we've got to reexamine him," said Red Sox manager John Farrell.

An oblique injury, perhaps?

"I don't know specifically yet, but there's a little soreness there in the left side," said Farrell.

Castillo led off against BC and went 1-for-3, including a single to right-center in his first at-bat.

"First pitch he sees, line-drive base hit," said Farrell. "There's an aggressive swing there."

The Red Sox signed Castillo last August to a seven-year, $72.5 million contract. After not playing baseball for over a year, Castillo has spent the last few months regaining his feel for the game.

"I think the more we get around him, the more we see him in games, we're getting more familiar with him," said Farrell. "He feels more relaxed, more confident because he has the number of at-bats he was able to compile last year. I think he's a a different guy, a more comfortable guy than who was brought to us last September."

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne.
Read More: Boston Red Sox, Rusney Castillo