Bill Koch

Sunday

Jul 12, 2020 at 12:50 PM


BOSTON --- As they’ve done throughout Summer Camp, Red Sox outfielders used batting practice on Sunday to put in some extra work on defense.


Andrew Benintendi, Alex Verdugo, J.D. Martinez and Kevin Pillar were among those shagging flies while the infield group took swings in the cage. The traditional seven fields surrounding JetBlue Park in Fort Myers have been replaced by just Fenway Park and Boston College.


"A lot of our work was done on the back fields," Pillar [...]

BOSTON --- As they’ve done throughout Summer Camp, Red Sox outfielders used batting practice on Sunday to put in some extra work on defense.


Andrew Benintendi, Alex Verdugo, J.D. Martinez and Kevin Pillar were among those shagging flies while the infield group took swings in the cage. The traditional seven fields surrounding JetBlue Park in Fort Myers have been replaced by just Fenway Park and Boston College.


"A lot of our work was done on the back fields," Pillar said. "Making that transition to part-time center fielder, part-time right fielder – getting comfortable with the dimensions out here – is something I’m starting to get more comfortable with."


JetBlue and Fenway have the same outfield configuration, albeit with a shorter wall in left field. Florida’s hurricane building codes prohibited a solid 37-foot replica of the Green Monster, forcing architects to incorporate a span of netting about halfway up.


Pillar, having played his first 695 career games with the Blue Jays, knows the dimensions well. The former American League East rival has appeared in 47 games here, including 44 starts. Pillar, who was traded to the Giants last season, has only played in more games at his two primary home ballparks since his 2013 debut – Rogers Centre and Oracle Park.


"I’ve never been on this side of the wall, but I’ve been here many times," Pillar said. "It’s a place where I have a lot of fond memories as a visiting player. I know that center field as well as anyone."


bkoch@providencejournal.com


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On Twitter: @BillKoch25