FORT MYERS, Fla. — Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez is normally jovial in the clubhouse, talking up his pitchers. But his dour face Saturday morning spoke volumes.

An MRI on Vazquez’s sore right elbow didn’t give him the assurance he desperately wanted.

“There’s something,” he said.

What that “something” is will be determined soon. Vazquez said a second medical opinion is being sought.

The worst-case scenario is the need for season-ending Tommy John surgery to transplant a ligament into the elbow. Or maybe rest is all that’s needed.

Manager John Farrell said he’s planning on not having Vazquez to begin the season. That makes Ryan Hanigan, the backup acquired in the Will Middlebrooks trade to San Diego, the No. 1 catcher.

The top candidates to be the second catcher are Blake Swihart, the Sea Dogs starter last year; and Humberto Quintero, 35, who has been up and down from the majors the past 11 years.

The two other catchers in camp are Luke Montz, who has played 23 major league games, and former Sea Dogs catcher Matt Spring.

Among the four, only Swihart is on the 40-man roster. To activate anyone else, Boston would have to take someone else off the 40-man.

Swihart, who turns 23 next Friday, batted .300 for the Sea Dogs last year, with 12 home runs. He was promoted to Pawtucket and played 18 games (.261).

Vazquez, 24, the Sea Dogs’ starting catcher in 2013, broke into the majors last year and was universally praised for his defense – framing pitches and throwing out runners. He batted .240 in 55 games.

PABLO SANDOVAL didn’t play in the Red Sox major league game Saturday. Instead he served as the ultimate designated hitter in two minor league games on Boston’s spring training complex.

Minor league spring training games are not bound by regular rules, so Sandoval jogged back and forth between games, which featured the Red Sox and Rays Class A teams.

When Sandoval arrived, he instantly inserted himself in the lineup and came away with 11 plate appearances.

Sandoval, who is batting .194 this spring, put the ball in play every time and had three hits (one double).

“Having fun,” Sandoval said of the compressed outing. “I was working on a lot of things, and my timing.”

RICK PORCELLO also set up shop on one of the back fields Saturday, pitching in the Class A Salem game.

Porcello was scratched from the major league game against the Rays because Farrell said he wanted Steven Wright to face an American League East team (as well as have Porcello bypass a division opponent).

Porcello, who has a 2.70 ERA in three games, pitched seven innings, retiring 25 batters – some innings featured extra outs to ensure Porcello got his work in.

Porcello allowed five hits, one run and one walk, striking out six.

“I was able to make the mechanical adjustments I was looking to make, so it was a good day,” Porcello said. “Threw everything both sides of the plate.

“But my arm feels good and I’m making adjustments quicker, so I’m on the right track.”

OUTFIELDER MATT Johnson was a non-drafted free agent in 2010 when he was signed out of the independent leagues. He beat the odds by hanging around for five seasons, including parts of 2013 in Portland.

Johnson, 26, was released last week. He had spent all of last year in advanced Class A Salem, batting .276 with 40 stolen bases. He totaled 87 steals (in 128 attempts) in his career, including eight with the Sea Dogs, when he batted .280.

MORE CUTS are expected this week as minor league rosters are settled before the minor leaguers break camp next Sunday.

All four full-season teams – Pawtucket, Portland, Salem and Greenville – begin their seasons April 9. The Sea Dogs will host Reading at 6 p.m.

 

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