Projo Sox Blog

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- It appears Ryan Westmoreland is on the verge of signing with the Boston Red Sox for $2 million.

The Sox selected the Portstmouth native as their fifth round pick (172nd overall) in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft in June. The team has not made an official announcement, but it's expected to come some time tonight or tomorrow morning.

Westmoreland will earn $200,000, $300,000, $400,000, $500,000 and $600,000 in each year of the five-year contract, which will be worth $1.6 million in present-day value.

Teams have until midnight tonight to sign their draftees.

Westmoreland will report to one of the Sox' Low-A clubs and will forego his scholarship at Vanderbilt University.

A big reason he wanted to turn pro was the fact it was the Red Sox -- his favorite team -- that drafted him.

"It was overwhelming when I heard my named called out," he said the night he was drafted in June. "It would be one thing just to be drafted, but then to go to the Boston Red Sox -- my favorite team since I was 8 years old -- takes it to a different level. To be drafted by the World [Series] champions and to be associated with that ball club is just great."

The 6-foot-2 195-pounder, who throws right and bats left, was recently named Gatorade Rhode Island Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. He recently pitched a perfect game for Portsmouth, striking out 19 of 21 batters he faced in the seven-inning game. He's had the type of high school career -- both on the playing fields and in the classroom -- that Hollywood scripts are made of.

 Tags  Red Sox Ryan Westmoreland

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