The starting pitcher was a high round draft pick with plenty of promise. Just before the Red Sox minor leaguers broke camp in spring training, he was called to a meeting and told he was going to Portland – but as a relief pitcher.

That was 2005 and Manny Delcarmen turned out all right. He reached the major leagues that same season, then appeared in 50 games in 2006 and was a big part of the 2007 World Series champion’s bullpen, compiling a 2.05 ERA.

Sea Dogs relief pitcher Pat Light puts the tag on New Britain runner Jonathan Aro at home plate to save a run after a passed ball in an April game.

Ten years later, Pat Light is looking for similar results.

Light, 24, was a supplemental-round draft pick (37th overall) for Boston in 2012 out of Monmouth University. Two-plus seasons as a starter equaled a 9-12 record with a 4.89 ERA.

He started 22 games in advanced Class A Salem last year and appeared headed back in 2015. Then he was called into a meeting a week before spring training ended.

“I was finishing my cup of coffee in the morning,” Light said. “They told me the (new) game plan.”

The plan called for Light to be a reliever.

“I love starting. I’ve wanted to be a starter my whole life,” Light said. “But I just think it’s a good opportunity for me.

“They seemed excited about it. I think that rubbed off on me so I’m excited about it.”

Light, 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, is throwing a split-fingered fastball again to go with a fastball that hits the high 90s.

“He’s got a big arm,” said Sea Dogs pitching coach Kevin Walker, who coached Light in Salem last year. “With his split, he’s a guy with two legitimate weapons. That’s what you look for at the major league level.”

When the Red Sox signed Light with a $1 million bonus, they took away his splitter and told him to develop a change-up, along with his fastball and slider. Now the change-up’s gone and the split is back.

“With some of the new pitches I’m throwing, my stuff might play a little better out of the pen for an inning or two,” Light said.

In nine appearances, Light has a 3.94 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP (walks/hits per inning), with 21 strikeouts and five walks in 16 innings.

“Feel like he’s transitioned well,” Walker said. “First couple of outings, just trying to get his feet wet. Now he’s starting to get into it. He’s come into some dirty innings. He’s pitched multiple innings.

“His arm’s bounced back well. He seems to enjoy the role. Other than one hiccup, he’s been throwing the ball really well.”

Light’s first appearance featured two home runs. His real hiccup came April 22. He entered the fifth inning with two outs and retired seven straight batters. But he came out for the eighth and gave up three runs.

But for the most part, Light has been, well, lights out.

“It’s coming along,” Light said.

Light’s career has been coming along since his days at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jersey, when he set a Shore Conference career mark with a 20-0 record, and 1.52 ERA. The Twins drafted him in the 29th round but he opted for Monmouth.

Light talks proudly of his New Jersey roots and, of course, he’s a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. One thrill during his rookie season with the Lowell Spinners was catching Springsteen’s show at Fenway Park.

“It was during our All-Star break,” Light said. “Awesome concert.”

Now he seeks a return to Fenway, this time in uniform. Light might have discovered a way to get there – through the bullpen gate.

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