Minor Details: What's up with Westy?

Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland is in the midst of his first spring as a professional baseball player after being drafted out of Portsmouth High School last June.

So, what's it like being a teenage minor leaguer in his first season? How is his surgically repaired shoulder healing? Where's he playing this summer? What's it like hitting against John Smoltz? 

Ryan has been kind enough to offer some periodic insight via The Daily News sports blog.

Here's the first installment:

RW: My first spring training was a blast, but it definitely could've been better, if I was playing. It’s been a long journey through rehab, but it’s finally coming to an end. I've been DH'ing in games the last couple weeks, and the shoulder feels great hitting, although I've been struggling a little bit getting my timing back at the plate. I won't be playing the outfield for a few more weeks because the throwing program is fairly strict and it’s normal that, after shoulder surgery, the throwing rehab is longer than the hitting. Overall the shoulder feels good, but it definitely has its good days and its bad days.

As far as where I'll be playing this summer, I can't tell you for sure. No one really has told me anything for sure, and even though I've heard things from people, nothing is definite. If I had to guess, I'd say I'll be in Lowell (Mass.) for this summer, which would be awesome, playing close to home in front of great fans every night.

There have been some great parts of spring training, and one of those highlights for me was working out with the big leaguers. I worked out with guys like Kevin Youkilis, Manny Delcarmen, and also had the honor to meet and take BP off of John Smoltz. All of these guys are class acts and it was cool to meet guys that I have been watching on TV for so long.

Another part of spring training that I enjoyed was meeting all of the guys, from low A all the way up the ladder. I met a lot of great guys who I'm looking forward to spending a lot of time with in the future.

Thats pretty much the wrapup on my first spring training with the Boston Red Sox and the update on the shoulder.