Bobby Poyner’s riding an effective changeup to a key role for the Sox bullpen

Red Sox fans being Red Sox fans, they were making their 25-man roster projections even before spring training started. You would have needed to cast a wide-ranging search to find lefty reliever Bobby Poyner’s name on any of those rosters.

In fact, if Poyner had taken a realistic prediction at the opening-day roster, he admits he wouldn’t have made his own cut.

"Going into spring training, obviously I was expecting to start the year in Pawtucket," said Poyner. "My mindset the whole time going in was not take any outing for granted, try to make my pitches and continue to develop my stuff and really just try to showcase what I can do in each and every outing and try and have success in each outing."