He’s not tall, but he’s quite a hitter, batting well over .300. He used to play second base but has moved around.

And his name is not Mookie.

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Portland Sea Dogs infielder Sean Coyle is 7 for 14 since being activated from the disabled list April 10. In 21 games this season he is batting .352 with three home runs. Coyle was drafted as a shortstop, but has played second and third.

Sean Coyle, 22, may be a forgotten player on this potent Portland Sea Dogs team, but only because he has been on the disabled list with a strained hamstring and bruised index finger.

He is healthy now, and making it known he’s back.

Coyle went 2 for 4 Sunday, making him 7 for 14 since being activated Friday. In his 21 games this season, Coyle is batting .352 with three home runs.

Coyle, 5-foot-7, 175 pounds, is an inch or two shorter than teammate Mookie Betts. And while Betts is on a tear, Coyle is also looking just fine.

“He’s developing his swing,” Sea Dogs hitting coach Rich Gedman said. “For a guy who is not tall or big, he’s really a strong guy.”

Coyle is also one of several infield prospects for the Red Sox. Drafted as a shortstop, he moved to second base as a pro and has played mostly third with the Sea Dogs.

That logjam in the infield has the Red Sox trying Betts in center field. Coyle would be open to the same thing.

“I would like to play every position,” Coyle said, “second, third, short, even the outfield. Anything that gives me a chance to break into the big leagues somewhere and make an impact.

“If it makes me more versatile as a player, it makes me more valuable as a player.”

Coyle was the first of a series of touted high school players Boston selected in the 2010 draft.

The Red Sox first went after college players (Kolbrin Vitek, Bryce Brentz, Anthony Ranaudo and Brandon Workman) before taking shortstops Coyle and Garin Cecchini.

Both had college scholarships in hand, but the Red Sox recruited them hard, signing both with $1.3-million bonuses.

“It was tough,” said Coyle, whose father played for the University of Pennsylvania and whose older brother, Tommy, played for North Carolina. Sean also had a full ride to UNC.

“I had my mind made up that I was going to school. I didn’t think about signing out of high school until I played in the fall of my senior year with Team USA (Under-18 team).

“That winter there was a little buzz (about being drafted), but I really didn’t take it too seriously. Everything happened so fast, being drafted pretty high.”

Coyle got taken in the third round, Cecchini the fourth.

Coyle and Cecchini have naturally been compared. Both come from baseball families. Tommy Coyle is now in the Rays farm system. Garin’s younger brother, Gavin, is in the Mets organization.

Cecchini took off last year, batting .350 in Salem before a promotion to Portland. He is now in Triple-A Pawtucket.

Coyle reached Salem in 2012, batting .249 overall, but .302 in July and August. Baseball American labeled him as Boston’s best second-base prospect.

Last season, Coyle played only 48 games for Salem because of elbow and knee injuries.

Coyle began this season with Portland but went on the disabled list after 18 games.

“I’d like to stay on the field a little more,” he said. “Not anything I can really hang my head about.

“I still feel like I’m developing even when I’m not on the field. Taking every opportunity I’m handed to get better.”

Coyle wasted no time jumping back in and is batting .500 since his return.

“I worked really hard staying in shape, trying to keep my timing,” Coyle said.

To work on his timing, Coyle would go to the bullpen and stand at the plate during pitchers’ side sessions, simply watching the pitches.

The results of his preparation are obvious. If he can stay healthy, the Red Sox will have another decision on their hands with another promising infielder (or outfielder).

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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