Mookie Betts getting more exposure in Portland

Part of Mookie Betts expected some things to be different.

After coming out of nowhere and hitting .314 with 38 stolen bases last season at two Single A levels, he was suddenly on everyone’s radar.

He noticed pitchers started approaching him differently.

The days of seeing a fastball in a fastball count are long gone.

Now it’s sliders, curveballs, changeups. Anything and everything off speed.

“I’ve gotten a little better with it,” the second baseman said. “It’s still tough because it’s all those two-seamers and cutters and everything, and that’ll get you off balance.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve refined it, but I’m getting a little more consistent with it.”

But the biggest difference, Betts said, is the challenge of going from relative anonymity to being one of the top prospects in the Red Sox’ farm system in a matter of months.

“It was fun, exciting kind of going from not being anybody to, not necessarily that I’m somebody now, but just kind of a name that’s buzzing a little bigger,” Betts said. “It’s . . . it’s . . . it’s different.”

He said he’s started to draw more media attention, too.

“Going from last year, really not getting interviewed at all, to now having some interviews once or week or so. It’s different,” he said.

Betts, drafted in the fifth round in 2011 out of John Overton High in Nashville, was never cut from the same cloth as the players he would see on the cover of Baseball America.

Experts and media fawned over many players from that draft, including the four players the Red Sox drafted in the first round — Matt Barnes, Blake Swihart, Henry Owens, and Jackie Bradley Jr.

“Those guys got it from Day 1,” Betts said.

Betts was never thirsty for that kind of attention, but whenever he saw a list of the Sox’ top prospects — typically with him not on it — he used that as a motivator.

“I saw it, I always told myself I want to be on there,” Betts said. “That’s kind of been a motivator. Not that it means anything to be on there, but just the fact of being on there kind of gave me motivation.”

Now it’s hard to find a list that doesn’t include him. Baseball America lists Betts as the Sox’ No. 7 prospect. Soxprospects.com has him at No. 6 and climbing.

“Although I feel like that doesn’t really mean anything — rankings and stuff don’t mean anything, because you’ve still got to go out there and play — it’s still fun to be on there,” Betts said.

Even a year ago, it was easy to look at Betts as a statistical anomaly. At one point, his on-base percentage was 200 points higher than his batting average.

But after Betts hit .356 in May, he never let up.

From May through the end of the season, Betts hit .342 with 13 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases, jumping from Single A Greenville to High Single A Salem.

Through Wednesday, he’s reached base in all 15 games this season for Double A Portland, reaching safely in 45 straight games dating to August. But he doesn’t look at it as a streak. He looks at it as his job.

“I just try to get on base no matter what,” said Betts, who entered Thursday’s game batting .452, with an on-base percentage of .500. “Whether it be walk, hit, error, however. Because I feel like I affect the game with my legs — stealing bags, scoring runs. So as far as how I’m getting on base, I don’t really care. But I just want to get there.”

His approach at the plate — long at-bats, lots of pitches, lots of patience — fits perfectly with the Red Sox’ philosophy.

“I feel like you make a pitcher throw pitches and get the starter’s pitch count up,” Betts said.

Three to watch

Kevin Heller, Salem: The 24-year-old outfielder reached base in each of his first 15 games, hitting .340 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, and 7 RBIs. The Amherst College product also worked in 10 walks in that stretch.

Garin Cecchini, Pawtucket: The 23-year-old third baseman takes fast learning to a new level. Over his first 19 Triple A games, he’s hitting .324 with 12 RBIs and 10 runs. He’s hitting .333 on the PawSox’ current homestand.

Deven Marrero, Portland: Marrero played his final 19 games last season with Portland and hit .236 with 16 strikeouts. Through his first 10 games with the Sea Dogs this year, he’s hitting .326 with five doubles and seven RBIs.

Sore in Salem

Salem has dealt with a rash of strange injuries this year. From outfielder Aneury Tavarez tweaking his hamstring in the same game in which he finished a triple shy of the cycle, to second baseman Reed Gragnani getting cleated in the knee after getting off to a .421 start, several Salem top players have been cut down by injury. Opening Day shortstop Jose Vinicio hasn’t played since hurting his shoulder diving headfirst into first base April 5, and righthander William Cuevas was scratched from his start Monday because of arm soreness.