Boston Red Sox

April 4, 2010: A day marked on my calendar since November.

And while some will be celebrating Easter and others observing the final days of Passover, an unofficial holiday takes place that you won't find on your calendar. I speak, of course, of Opening Day—the most wonderful day of the year.

Drafted: First Round, 2008 (Sarasota, FL)

Height: 6′3″; Weight: 195 lbs

Born: Oct. 4, 1989

It seems pre-ordained. It seems like only a matter of time before pitcher Casey Kelly develops into a star. When the Red Sox talk trade with other major league clubs, opposing GMs ask Theo Epstein to include the 20-year-old right-hander in the deal. Epstein declines and declares Kelly untouchable. He and Ryan Westmoreland appear to be the ONLY prospects who cannot be had in a deal. Period.

At 1 am, the Red Sox announced their 25-man Opening Day roster in an e-mail to the media. Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein made the announcement.

If you have any doubt as to the reasons this organization is successful, all you need to know is that the front office was toiling away at 1 am on Easter Sunday morning.

Drafted: 17th Round, 2006 (Middle Georgia JC)

Height: 6′2″; Weight: 180 lbs

Born: February 19, 1987

Josh Reddick hails from Effingham County, Georgia, which is located approximately twenty miles north of the magnificent Antebellum city of Savannah. He was born to be a baseball player.  It’s all he has wanted to do since he was four years old and it’s all he wants to do for the next 15 or 20 years.

It seems to me that he may get his wish.

A few years ago, the Red Sox front office decided to experiment with Bill James’ closer-by-committee theory, and we all know how THAT worked out for them.

This season, Theo & Company have decided to pursue the concept of run prevention as opposed to run production — and over the course of the next several months we will learn how THAT will all learn how THAT will work out for them.

It says here that it will work out just fine.

Ryan Kalish grew up in Red Bank, N.J. In high school, he starred on the gridiron and the diamond.

He was offered a baseball scholarship from the University of Virginia and planned on attending, in part, because the Cavaliers baseball program agreed to let him play football.

He had decided he would go to college and play two sports if he was unable to secure a professional baseball contract on the terms he believed appropriate for his skills (he was seeking a $600K signing bonus).

Drafted: Fifth Round, 2008 (Portsmouth, RI)

Height: 6′2″; Weight: 195 lbs

Born: April 27, 1990

This is where I choose to slot Westmoreland. While his future is in question following his recent surgery, his talent is too great to ignore…but there are too many questions in play to slot him ahead of Kelly, Reddick, or Kalish.

The Texas Rangers have claimed corner infielder Ryan Garko off waivers from the Seattle Mariners. The move effectively kills any chance the Red Sox will be able to trade Mike Lowell to the Rangers in exchange for catching prospect Max Ramirez.

Drafted: 18th Round, 2006 (Carmichael, CA)

Height: 6′4″

Weight: 215 lbs

Born: September 25, 1987

Anderson was scheduled to attend college and play ball at U-Cal, Berkeley after starring for TEAM USA during the 2005 PanAm Championships and leading California high schoolers in home runs in 2006.

While he had the talent to be a first round or first round supplemental pick in the ‘06 draft, the commitment to Berkeley caused many teams to shy away.

Luis Tiant. Jose Canseco. Mike Lowell. Jose Iglesias isn’t the first Cuban Red Sox, but he may have opened up the floodgates when he defected from the Cuban World Junior National Team in July, 2008.

Signed to an $8.25 million deal with a $6 million signing bonus, Iglesias was obviously the cream-of-the-crop and projects as the Red Sox shortstop of the future.

Agreeing to a $350,000 bonus, Cuban outfielder Jorge Padron falls short of such lofty expectations, but he remains an excellent offensive player with great upside.