Pedro Ciriaco is the feel good story of the spring

By: Ian Browne/MLB.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Every year, it seems that there's a depth signing who makes the type of impression during Spring Training that helps lead to an eventual callup to the Major Leagues. For the Red Sox this spring, that could well be Pedro Ciriaco, a 26-year-old middle infielder with 31 games of Major League experience.
However, Ciriaco, who was signed by the Red Sox as a Minor League free agent on Dec. 15, is making it clear this spring that he could be someone the club can count on if the need arises at some point.
Barring an injury on the Major League club, Ciriaco is all but certain to open the season at Triple-A Pawtucket. But this is the place where impressions are made.

So what it's Spring Training and there's no guaruntee these numbers will translate? Your telling me this guy isn't a better hitter than Nick Punto? Pedro is hitting .545 (6-11) including a walkoff home run versus the Marlins yesterday over the Green Monster at not-Fenway. Either way it's good to know that we have depth down in Pawtucket that isn't named Jose Iglesias. If someone up the middle goes down early in the season you don't want to have to rush Jose along if he's not ready yet. Ciriaco may only have 31 games of major league experience and yeah they were with the Pirates, but it's something to work off of.

Even Bobby Valentine has taken notice:

"I'm very impressed," manager Bobby Valentine said. "You know, he's stolen bases when he's been asked to steal, he's made the plays defensively. He's bunted very well for base hits. He had a hit and run. He hits a home run to win the game. There's nothing else that he could do to impress people. He had like one bad at-bat since he's been here when he swung at a slider with a 2-2 count that was a little outside. He's pretty good."
High praise indeed.