FORT MYERS, Fla. — Over the past two seasons, amid his seven call-ups to the Red Sox and almost as many demotions back to Triple A Worcester, Nick Sogard came to embrace the Teachings of the Turnpike.
Relax. Don’t look too far ahead. Even when riding the shuttle, don’t ride the proverbial roller coaster.
It was a lesson he learned near the end of 2025, when he batted .294 and recorded multiple game-swinging hits in September, helping the Sox eke into the playoffs.
Now, he has carried that mind-set into spring training, during which he is once again competing for a job in the majors.
“Last year, I allowed [professional uncertainty] to affect me and how I was feeling, which in turn is naturally going to affect your play. And I think there’s a lot to learn from last year with regards to that,” Sogard, 28, said Monday after hitting a three-run homer in the Red Sox’ 5-3 exhibition win over the Phillies. “So really trying to just take care of what I can take care of and play good baseball, and then let everything else just just fall where it falls.”
There is at least one infield/bench spot up for grabs, with Romy Gonzalez out indefinitely because of a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Andruw Monasterio is an on-paper replacement candidate, like Sogard. Both have hit lefthanded pitchers well and play second base, among other positions.
“Probably in [Sogard’s] mind, looking around, in that situation you start looking and counting,” manager Alex Cora said. “There’s a lot of middle infielders, versatile infielders who have done it at the big league level. But he’s a pro. He’ll be ready. If he breaks camp with us, he’ll do it. If not, he’ll be prepared.”
Sogard will make sure of that, having lived this life before.
“I didn’t really fault myself, because I’ve never gone through that,” he said. “And I care a lot about this. So to be emotional about it is fair. And I think I’m just more well-prepared and equipped to deal with whatever this game has to offer.”
Casas update
Triston Casas said he will not play in any exhibition games during spring training. He had hoped to, but he won’t be ready in time, he said.
Casas has not encountered a setback in his rehabilitation from left knee surgery last May, Cora said. His next steps include base running and sliding, which are hurdles to getting cleared for game action, but he hasn’t been able to check those boxes yet.
Crochet’s day
Garrett Crochet’s 4⅔-inning, three-run outing against the Phillies was a tale of two heaters.
The first: It was a particularly hot and humid day at JetBlue Park.
“Good [start], especially on a heater like today,” he said. “I’d be pitching shirtless right now if I could. I changed jerseys after the second [inning].”
And the second: His fastball velocity was 94.9 miles per hour, down a tick or two from his previous outings. He was not, ahem, sweating it.
“I know the velocity will come, especially as we’re building up at this time,” he said. “So there’s going to be ebbs and flows to that — I mean, across the course of the season there will be, as well.”
For starters, still slow
In a move that eliminates whatever slim chance might have existed that Patrick Sandoval would be ready for the start of the season, the Red Sox are reducing the intensity of his training in a “deload week,” Cora said.
Instead of another simulated game Wednesday, Sandoval will take a by-design step back and throw an extended bullpen session — no batters — on Thursday instead, Sandoval said. Then he’ll continue with his starter buildup. He said he hopes to get into a Grapefruit League game before they end in two weeks.
“I’ve been going pretty hard out here since the beginning of January,” Sandoval said. “I’m not the biggest fan of this deload, but it’s what they prescribe and what they think will be good for me in the long run. I’ve trusted them so far, so I’m going to keep trusting them.”
Sandoval is 20 months removed from Tommy John surgery. He said a rehab assignment to begin the year “absolutely” sounds like a good idea because he is “just itching to get back out there for real.”
Kutter Crawford, who also missed last season because of injuries (knee and wrist), is being pushed “a little harder” than in recent weeks, Cora said. He’ll face hitters again in the coming days.
Cora said it is “too early” to discuss turning either starter into a reliever. The Red Sox’ rotation spots are accounted for.
So long for now
In their first round of cuts, the Red Sox sent eight players to minor league spring training, including one on the 40-man roster: lefthander Jake Bennett, a starting pitcher prospect.
None of the others were serious candidates to make the team: catchers Nate Baez and Ronald Rosario, righthanders Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris, Vinny Nittoli, and Devin Sweet, and lefthander Jeremy Wu-Yelland. The Sox have 58 players remaining in major league camp.
Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him @timbhealey.