• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

SOX NATION

Flashback, Part 2: Red Sox Spring Training Camp 2015

March 14, 2017 Leave a Comment

[ CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 ]

In February 2015, we finally returned to Fenway South … and as much as our inaugural 2013 experience had surpassed our expectations, our sophomore visit blew them out of the water.

Of course, it’s worth noting that those expectations were significantly lowered when, much to our dismay, we discovered shortly before departing on our 2015 vacation that the Red Sox had pushed back the start date of their public workouts until after the scheduled end of our trip. Thankfully, through a series of fortunate events (read: a stalker-ish email I sent to a redsox.com address that I wasn’t even sure was valid), I connected with the Custom Service Manager at JetBlue Park, who graciously agreed to let us stop by while we were in the area.

And so, on the morning of our visit, I loaded my family into the car and prepared the kids with my usual Daddy Downer talk:

“You guys, I have no idea what’s going to happen when we get there, OK? They might just let us in for a couple of minutes to see the field, so I don’t want you to get your hopes up for much more than that.”

(Like any good parent, I know it’s best to kill their dreams while they’re still young.)

As it turned out, setting the bar so low made it all the more awesome when, instead of just getting a brief glimpse of the field, we got a private, hour-long, guided tour of JetBlue Park, during which all of this awesomeness happened:

IMG_5975
IMG_5972
IMG_5973
IMG_5980
IMG_5966
IMG_5990
IMG_5982
IMG_5986
IMG_5989

We even hit the broadcast booth …

IMG_6005
IMG_6006

… and visited Red Sox owner John Henry’s private suite …

IMG_6009

… from which we took in a great view of the ballpark.

IMG_6010
IMG_6012
IMG_6013

Now, if the tour had ended right then, we would have been more than satisfied … but it was at that point that our guide — who previously had warned us that we might not see any players during our visit — led us out to the practice area, where we watched Red Sox catchers Christian Vasquez and Blake Swihart take batting practice …

Christian Vasquez
Blake Swihart

… as well as some defensive work by Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez …

Mookie Betts & Hanley Ramirez

… and Brock Holt.

Brock Holt

We also spotted General Manager Ben Cherrington and Manager John Farrell …

Ben Cherington & John Farrell

… and saw Xander Bogaerts make an awesome play during infield drills:

Xander Bogaerts 1
Xander Bogaerts 2
Xander Bogaerts 4
Xander Bogaerts 6
Xander Bogaerts 8
Xander Bogaerts 9

Finally, we had another up-close moment with Jackie Bradley Jr. …

Jackie Bradley Jr.

… who, when practice ended, came over to the fence and tossed each of the kids a baseball.

* * *

Looking back on it now, it’s hard to believe how lucky we were — especially considering that, for a while there, it looked like we might not even get into the park that year.

zj-monsta

After the great time we had watching the team practice in 2013 and 2015, our next spring-training objective was clear: To catch a game at JetBlue Park. We made that wish come true in 2016 … and, once again, the experience was even more amazing than we had hoped it would be.

To be continued…

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Filed Under: Boston Red Sox

Previous PostNext Post

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

About Me


Me
Hey there. I’m Jon Zal. I was born and raised in the Boston area, and I now live in the Philadelphia area. I’m a die-hard Red Sox fan married to a die-hard Red Sox fan, and together, we made a couple more die-hard Red Sox fans …
Read the rest »

Twitter

⚾️ Jon Zal ⚾️Follow895137

Husband, father, writer, veteran, & die-hard #RedSox fan. Boston-area native living in Philly-area 'burbs since 2010. BLOG: https://t.co/XORE0pNrJk Go Sox!

⚾️ Jon Zal ⚾️
JonZalSox avatar⚾️ Jon Zal ⚾️@JonZalSox·
20 Apr

If @NESN’s objective was to make me a weepy mess, then mission accomplished.
#RIPRemDawg
#RedSox

Reply on TwitterRetweet on TwitterLike on Twitter4
JonZalSox avatar⚾️ Jon Zal ⚾️@JonZalSox·
8 Apr

Imagine being Gerrit Cole. Oof.

Reply on TwitterRetweet on TwitterLike on Twitter
JonZalSox avatar⚾️ Jon Zal ⚾️@JonZalSox·
8 Apr

The @Yankees playing the Evil Empire theme song while introducing the @RedSox represents a gold-medal level lack of self awareness.
#RedSox
#OpeningDay

Reply on TwitterRetweet on TwitterLike on Twitter2
JonZalSox avatar⚾️ Jon Zal ⚾️@JonZalSox·
31 Mar

.@TwitterSupport HOW IN THE ACTUAL FUCK DO I DISABLE THESE GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING “RECENT TWEET” NOTIFICATIONS??? I LITERALLY HAVE DOZENS OF THESE. THIS IS THE SINGLE MOST USLESS AND INFURIATING FEATURE ON THIS GODFORSAKEN POS APP. MAKE IT STOP. JFC.

Twitter feed video.
Image for the Tweet beginning: .@TwitterSupport HOW IN THE ACTUAL
Reply on TwitterRetweet on Twitter2Like on Twitter7
JonZalSox avatar⚾️ Jon Zal ⚾️@JonZalSox·
17 Mar

Oof. 🥹
#RedSox #RemDawg

Twitter feed video.
Image for the Tweet beginning: Oof. 🥹
#RedSox #RemDawg
Reply on TwitterRetweet on TwitterLike on Twitter3

Subscribe

Enter your email address to receive a notification when I publish a new post. (I will never spam you.)

SOX TALK

  • Jon Zal on Alex Cora: Baseball Manager … or Clairvoyant Magical Baseball Wizard?Thanks for buying in! :)
  • Jon Zal on The Price is wrong … againI wish!
  • Unk on The Price is wrong … againHas anyone seen Jon Lester ?
  • Paul T Morrison on Alex Cora: Baseball Manager … or Clairvoyant Magical Baseball Wizard?Vazquez Veranda. I like it.
  • Carole on 2016 ALDS Game 1: WTF just happened…?Let's see what he can do! ...game on!
  • Shilo McDonald on Let it begin!My sentiments exactly. Except the part about being at Clay's no-no. And replace nerdy web developer with nerdy IT Guy.

© 2007–2022 JON ZAL

Sox Nation logo

Twitter

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.