Other members of the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox have visited Hadlock Field.

Jason Varitek and Pedro Martinez arrived in uniform, working with Boston’s prospects on the Portland Sea Dogs.

Trot Nixon, however, visited Monday to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and visit with fans.

Someday, Nixon said, he might be back in uniform.

“I would love to be able to do something in the Red Sox organization, in a certain capacity,” Nixon said.

But Nixon, 40, has two other players to coach right now.

Chase Nixon, 12, and Luke Nixon, 9.

“Time is precious and I want to spend as much as I can with my boys,” said Nixon, who lives with his wife, Kathryn, and the boys in Wilmington, N.C. “Before you know it, they’ll be off to college.”

Nixon was drafted out of high school by the Boston Red Sox in 1993. A touted athlete, Nixon was chosen seventh overall, ahead of such players as Torii Hunter (No. 20) and Varitek (No. 21).

And Nixon was a rarity back then, a Red Sox prospect that wasn’t traded for a veteran player. He worked his way up the minor league system, including part of 1995 and 1996 with the Trenton Thunder, then the Red Sox Double-A affiliate.

When the Thunder played in Portland, a Red Sox fan would treat the players to a nice dinner.

“My last time here, I missed (the dinner) because I was sick,” Nixon said. “I was furious because when you’re a minor leaguer, you don’t get too many good meals.”

Nixon began enjoying major league spreads regularly, playing for Boston from 1998 to 2006. His name occasionally came up in trade talks, including one rumored deal with the Cubs for Sammy Sosa.

“I wanted to play for the Red Sox,” said Nixon, who was still flattered. “They wanted me for Sammy Sosa?”

His most memorable season in Boston, of course, was 2004, celebrating a championship. Nixon wore his World Series ring on Monday, “just for occasions like this,” he said.

Nixon enjoyed watching the 2013 Red Sox World Series team and saw a mirror of his 2004 group.

“Kevin Millar used to say we couldn’t wait to get to the clubhouse to see what would happen that day,” Nixon said. “This (2013) team seemed a lot like that.”

Nixon spends part of his time making appearances like Monday’s. He’s making more of them this year, with Red Sox fans celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 2004 World Series. Nixon said there would be a celebration at Fenway, “but I can’t let the cat out of the bag.”

So Nixon will be in Boston this summer. Then he will likely hurry back to Wilmington to watch his sons’ travel baseball teams – teams organized by Nixon’s friend, former Sea Dogs player Fletcher Bates, who runs a training facility in Wilmington.

In future years, Nixon might return to Hadlock as a Red Sox special assistant. For now, he has some precious time to enjoy.

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

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases