When the Boston Red Sox drafted high school left-handed pitcher Jason Groome in the first round of baseball’s amateur draft on Thursday, the thinking is that Boston went for the best player instead of immediate help on the mound.

By the second day, Boston got players who can help sooner – not immediately but maybe by 2018.

On Day 2, Boston began by drafting four college players – three pitchers and a third baseman who can also pitch – in rounds 3 through 6.

Those rounds are no guarantee, for sure, but there can be some gems (think Mississippi State closer Jonathan Papelbon, picked in the fourth round in 2003).

Here are the four picks:

• Round 3: University of Florida closer Shaun Anderson, a big (6-foot-5, 230-pound) right-hander with a 95 mph fastball and three secondary pitches. He had a 1.02 ERA with a 0.84 WHIP (walks/hits per innings), striking out 56 and walking six in 43 innings. Anderson has the pitch assortment to start. Boston could make him a starter initially, like it did with Papelbon, and then see what it has.

• Round 4: University of Arizona third baseman Bobby Dalbec. He batted only .266, but with a .818 OPS. He shows power potential, having hit 14 home runs in the (wooden bat) Cape Cod League last summer. If he doesn’t pan out offensively, Dalbec could try pitching. He was 10-4 with a 2.92 in 26 appearances (five starts) and threw 82/3 shutout innings in the NCAA tournament.

• Round 5: University of Maryland pitcher Mike Shawaryn. His ERA rose to 3.18 this year from 1.71 his sophomore year. He reportedly has a fastball in the low 90s with a plus slider.

• Round 6: University of Oregon pitcher Steve Nogosek. He might go right to a relief role after recording 16 saves with a 1.11 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.

The prize of Boston’s draft, of course, is Groome. Scouting reports have him listed with better potential than other Red Sox lefties out of high school (Henry Owens and Trey Ball). Assuming he signs, Groome, and his dynamite fastball and curve, will be among Boston’s top pitching prospects – behind only Anderson Espinoza.

Second-round pick C.J. Chatham, a shortstop out of Florida Atlantic University, batted .357 with a .976 OPS. He was considered a safe, but not spectacular pick. But one college coach, who saw Chatham in the spring, said, “He is a big league shortstop. Very athletic. Great defense/range/arm. Very smooth swing and showed potential for power and average.”

After the early rounds, the most interesting pick for the Red Sox was their 20th-round selection, Holy Cross shortstop Nick Lovullo, son of Boston bench coach Torey Lovullo. Nick played for the Sanford Mainers in the summer of 2014.

And now for the prospects already earning a paycheck from the Red Sox:

IN TRIPLE-A Pawtucket, the Red Sox have some decisions to make on two pitchers. Left-handed starter Roenis Elias seems to have earned a shot as Boston’s fifth starter. He’s been pitching well lately, especially his last two starts (16 innings, one earned run, 15 strikeouts, two walks).

Right-hander reliever Anthony Varvaro has an opt-out clause in his contract if he’s not in the majors by June 15. In his last seven games (112/3 innings), Varvaro has given up five hits and no earned runs. Interestingly, Varvaro is tougher on left-handed hitters (.114 average) than right-handers (.226).

That’s something to consider when Boston’s lefty specialist, Tommy Layne, is rarely used (19 games) with left-handers hitting .276 against him.

IN DOUBLE-A Portland, the best hitter is not really a prospect. But Ryan Court, 28, snatched from the independent leagues, can play every infield position while batting .342/.887 in 35 games.

IN ADVANCED A Salem, Ball (3-3, 2.60) had two different starts last week, lasting only 2/3 of an inning (three runs) in one, and then pitching 51/3 shutout innings on Sunday. … Reliever Bobby Poyner, recently promoted from Greenville, recorded saves in his first two appearances before giving up four earned runs in two innings on Sunday.

Middle infielders Yoan Moncada and Mauricio Dubon experienced brief slumps, but they’re back. Moncada (.299/.885) has 13 hits in his last 10 games, and Dubon (.319/.799) has 14 hits in his last eight games.

IN CLASS A Greenville, Espinoza (4-4, 3.35) has not allowed a run in three of his last four starts, including Saturday (five innings, three hits, no walks, four strikeouts).

Meanwhile, reliever Anyelo Leclerc (1.88 ERA/0.91 WHIP) should be moving on. Leclerc, 24, was a minor league Rule V pick last December from the Rangers’ organization.

IN SHORT-SEASON Lowell, the Spinners will start their season Friday. According to Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com, prospect Michael Kopech will be the opening-day starter. Kopech is coming back from a broken hand. … Nogosek will apparently will be on the Lowell roster (he tweeted that he was flying to Lowell) … The Spinners manager is former Sea Dogs infielder Iggy Suarez.

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