In the first unofficial spring game for the Boston Red Sox — a “B” game Thursday against the Minnesota Twins — catcher Ryan Lavarnway homered in the first inning.

The Portland Sea Dogs won’t see Lavarnway going deep at Hadlock Field again.

Later in the game, catcher Dan Butler replaced Lavarnway and homered in the seventh.

The Sea Dogs can plan to see more of the same when Butler begins playing next month in Portland.

Butler is in the major league camp but soon will join the rest of the minor leaguers who begin their spring training this weekend.

The Sea Dogs’ roster is far from set — we can assume Butler’s presence on the roster because he ended last season playing 21 games with Portland after being promoted from Class A.

Who will join Butler when the Double-A team leaves the humidity of Fort Myers for the wind chill of Maine?

Well, of course we have an idea about the roster:

CATCHERS: Butler, 25, is the non-drafted catcher from Arizona State who has surprisingly moved up the minor league ladder. His numbers dropped last year to a combined .241 but he also hit 12 home runs. Solid defensively.

Matt Spring, 27, was a free-agent signing last spring from the Rays’ organization. Solid backup and a leader.

INFIELD: There should be a lot of familiar faces with only third baseman Will Middlebrooks moved up to Triple-A.

First baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez was promoted June 11 to Portland but was then hit by appendicitis, playing only 49 games (.253, eight home runs).

Second baseman Oscar Tejeda, 23, is getting a second season in Portland, and Red Sox officials hope he’s promoted soon to Triple-A. The clock is ticking on Tejeda, who was added to the 40-man roster before last season. He slumped to .249 last season, making 24 errors.

Shortstop Ryan Dent gets a do-over after missing much of 2011 with hamstring trouble. Dent, who turns 23 this month, never has impressed with the bat, but the importance of his glove was noticeable in his absence last season.

Kolbrin Vitek, a first-round pick in 2010, looks to be the Sea Dogs’ third baseman after batting .281 in his first full pro season in Salem. He hit 17 home runs in his final year at Ball State in 2010, but had only three last season. Vitek, who turns 23 in April, made 28 errors last year.

Jon Hee could return to his backup role. He can play every infield position, and even some outfield .

Other candidates include versatile infielders Heiker Meneses, who played in Greenville, Salem and Portland last year; and Zach Gentile, who played last year in Salem. Backup first baseman Jorge Padron could return to Portland after a demotion to Salem last June 29.

OUTFIELD: Alex Hassan hit .291 with 13 home runs in a full season in Portland, and was invited to major league spring training. He should be in Pawtucket this year.

Jeremy Hazelbaker, 24, got off to a slow start when promoted to Portland last May 21, but batted .347 in August.

Ronald Bermudez, 23, was a Class A player called in to fill a hole in Pawtucket last year, He stayed for 57 games (.261 average). He came down to Portland and batted .292 in 19 games.

Bryce Brentz, 23, will be a welcome addition in Portland after batting a combined .306 with 30 home runs last year in Greenville and Salem. He was a supplemental-round draft pick in 2010.

Mitch Dening, 23, struggled in the backup role last season but should be back.

Another candidate is Peter Hissey, 22, who received a $1 million bonus in 2008 and has had two full seasons in Salem (batting .241 last year).

STARTING PITCHERS: Alex Wilson and Stephen Fife stood out last season before Fife was traded to the Dodgers and Wilson was promoted to Pawtucket on Aug. 15.

At least three starters should return from last year.

Brock Huntzinger, 23, had a 6.27 ERA, but also enjoyed some dominant moments with his fastball and slider. He might eventually end up in the bullpen but the Red Sox will keep him stretched out to develop his pitches.

Chris Balcom-Miller, 23, was promoted to Portland on May 31, and had a 4.81 ERA in 16 starts.

Stolmy Pimentel, 22, would like to forget last year. Fresh from being put on the 40-man roster, he was 0-9 with a 9.12 ERA in 15 starts before being sent down to Salem. If his mechanics are straightened out, he will return to Double-A.

Anthony Ranaudo, 22, will be the most exciting addition. A supplemental-round draft pick in 2010, complete with a $2.5 million signing bonus, Ranaudo is Boston’s top pitching prospect. He had a combined 3.97 ERA in Greenville and Salem, with 117 strikeouts in 127 innings.

Left-hander Chris Hernandez, 23, a seventh-round draft pick in 2010, didn’t get the publicity showered on Ranaudo but put together a solid year in Salem (10-7, 3.18).

Other candidates could be returners Jeremy Kehrt or Michael Lee. Ryan Pressly (4-6, 4.50 ERA in Salem) is a possibility.

BULLPEN: Josh Fields, 26, obtained from Seattle in the Erik Bedard deal, had a 3.15 ERA in nine games with a 1.15 WHIP (walks/hits per inning).

Eammon Portice, 26, could be in for his third tour in Portland. And Caleb Clay, 24, should return after a successful stint in the Arizona Fall League.

A lot of other bullpen names will be filled in. One dark-horse candidate could be Charlie Rosario, 23, whose aggressive style impressed in four games in Portland before he was returned to Greenville. He faded at the end of last year so he’s likely going to Salem.

Don’t expect an official Sea Dogs roster until about March 29, a week before the opener.

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

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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