Red Sox Alex Bregman catches a pop up in the during a spring training game against the Rays on Wednesday. Bregman has served as a mentor to Boston’s top three prospects – Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell – this spring. Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Because of the long drives between ballparks, teams who hold spring training in Florida usually don’t send key veteran players on the road. The Red Sox made an exception Monday.

Despite playing 86 miles north of JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida, for a matinee against the Orioles in Sarasota, Florida, new infielder Alex Bregman was in the lineup, hitting second as the designated hitter. The two-time All-Star and soon-to-be 31-year-old stood out in a lineup that includes young players like David Hamilton, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell and Vaughn Grissom, as well as non-roster invitees Trayce Thompson and Nate Eaton.

Bregman was 0 for 3 with a walk and a strike out as Boston and Baltimore played to a 6-6 tie.

Bregman wanted to ride the bus to Ed Smith Stadium and talk baseball with Boston’s young players, including top prospects like Mayer, Campbell and Roman Anthony.

Anthony was scratched from the lineup due to illness but Mayer (third base) and Campbell (left field) hitting behind Bregman.

“We talked about it like two days ago. He’s like, ‘I want to go. I want to be around the kids,’” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters. “Baltimore, too. ESPN (game also), so just kind of give everything to everybody, right?”

On the ESPN broadcast, Bregman explained that his decision came after some ribbing from a couple of the young prospects.

“(Marcelo) and Roman were giving me a hard time asking me if I even had any grey pants in my locker,” he said. “I told them I’d hop on the bus and make the trip with them here.”

Bregman’s trip to Ed Smith Stadium continues a spring of mentorship for the former Astro. His locker at Fenway South is right next to the trio of Campbell, Anthony and Mayer and he has been out to eat with the youngsters on numerous occasions since signing with the Red Sox in mid-February.

“It has been great getting to know all these guys,” Bregman said on ESPN. “Kristian and Celo and Roman, we all went out to eat. We talked baseball for a long time. They asked great questions. They’re mature beyond their years. I feel like all three of them can help us win baseball games this year.

“They’re super impressive. The biggest thing is they know what they’re good at. I feel like our player development does a really good job, here, of giving them goals to work on and things to work on in their game. To see their work ethic and to see how bad they want it on a daily basis has been impressive.”

RAFAEL DEVERS SPARKED a controversy in Red Sox camp when he was clear he didn’t want to move off third base to become Boston’s designated hitter.

Things seem to have blown over with Opening Day less than four weeks away. And even though it’s unclear where exactly Devers will be play later this month, David Ortiz stressed the importance of the Red Sox being on the same page about everything.

“The organization would never try to hurt a specific guy like Devers,” Ortiz told WEEI’s Rob Bradford on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast “Sometimes there’s a situation that happens, and you have to move fast and go in that direction.

“We all need to be on the same page, especially as a player, and understand situations sometimes, it’s going to happen. It’s going to happen because Devers is a great competitor. The team is trying to bring in guys like (Alex) Bregman to get the team better, and at some point, it’s all about putting the ego aside.”

Bregman, who signed with the Red Sox last month, won a Gold Glove at third base last season. He’s also spent time playing shortstop and second base. Devers, meanwhile, has struggled with his defense at the hot corner.