Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 3/15

The Boston Red Sox made the short trip across Ft. Myers to Hammond Stadium to take on the Minnesota Twins in a Mayor’s Cup Game. The Red Sox came away 6-4 winners to take a 3-1 lead in the Mayor’s Cup.

The biggest news of the day though wasn’t the fact that Josh Beckett was scratched from his start but rather the startling news that No. 1 Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland is going to be out indefinitely.

It was learned that Westmoreland has an issue with his brain and will be undergoing brain surgery on Tuesday in Arizona. Here’s the press release from the Boston Red Sox:

FORT MYERS, FL — Red Sox minor league outfielder Ryan Westmoreland has been diagnosed with a cavernous malformation in his brain and has taken medical leave from minor league camp to seek treatment. General Manager Theo Epstein made the announcement.

“The entire Red Sox organization stands in support of Ryan as he courageously deals with this issue,” Epstein said. “Ryan is a remarkable kid and a talented player, and we understand that many will be concerned about his health. He is getting the best medical attention the world has to offer, and we will have more information soon. Until then — out of respect for Ryan’s privacy and at the request of the Westmoreland family — we will not have any further comment.”

Westmoreland, 19, left minor league camp on Thursday, March 4th. He was diagnosed on Friday, March 5th at Massachusetts General Hospital, had consultations with three leading experts in the field, and on Tuesday will have surgery with Dr. Robert Spetzler of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ.

The Red Sox ask that members of the media please respect Ryan’s privacy and honor the Westmorelands’ request that they not be contacted until later in Ryan’s recovery.

On behalf of Steve and myself, I’d like to offer our best wishes to Westmoreland and hope that he makes a full and speedy recovery.

Beckett was supposed to make his third start of the spring but an illness forced him to miss the game. He’ll pitch again on Friday as the Red Sox plan to keep him on a regular schedule.

The Red Sox also made 12 roster moves on Sunday. They optioned shortstop Jose Iglesias to Double-A Portland and reassigned right-handed pitchers Randor Bierd, Casey Kelly, Robert Manuel, Adam Mills and Kyle Weiland, left-handed pitcher Kris Johnson, catcher Luis Exposito, infielders Lars Anderson and Yamaico Navarro, and outfielders Ryan Kalish and Che-Hsuan Lin to minor league camp.

They now have 46 players in camp, 38 of which are on the 40-man roster and eight non-roster invitees.

Ellsbury faces uphill battle for Gold in left [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Concern evident for Sox’ Westmoreland [Boston Globe]

Demotions not a downer [Boston Globe]

Ryan Westmoreland concern [Boston Herald]

Jed Lowrie checks out OK [Boston Herald]

Player X targets Bill Hall, who wants to know why [Boston Herald]

Varitek happy to have his mind back on baseball [CSN New England]

Westmoreland to have brain surgery [ESPN Boston]

Sox stay mum on Westmoreland [ESPN Boston]

An inside look at Sox prospects [ESPN Boston]

Lowrie sidelined after accelerated heart rate [Full Count]