Thursday, March 19

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The summer and autumn of 2004 represents a magical and historic time in Red Sox history, and it will always be looked upon in a glowing way.

But a beloved band of “Idiots” breaking an 86-year World Series championship drought in the most improbable way might not always be the only thing that time period is remembered for in club lore.

In a span of less than three months, Marcus Phillips (July 26, 2004), Kyson Witherspoon (Aug. 12, 2004) and Anthony Eyanson (Oct. 9, 2004) each joined the world.

And in recent months, they have joined forces. Three hard-throwing righties who pitched their college years in the vaunted SEC were all selected by the Red Sox in the 2025 Draft. And they are among the team’s Top 10 prospects as rated by MLB Pipeline, with Witherspoon checking in at No. 4, followed by Phillips (No. 9) and Eyanson (No. 10). 

Witherspoon was a first-rounder (No. 15 overall) out of Oklahoma. Then came Phillips, a Competitive Balance A selection (33rd overall) out of Tennessee. And then Eyanson, the final member of the trio, who was the 87th pick in the Draft (Round 3).

Together, they will be on display at Friday’s Spring Breakout game under the lights in Sarasota against the Orioles. While they generally don’t pitch on the same day because they are starters, they all hope to get into the game.

Though they didn’t interact much as college competitors, it took them about five seconds to become the best of friends/competitors when they reported to Fort Myers shortly after they signed with the Red Sox last summer.

Even for polished college pitchers, there are steps to go through before getting to Boston. But could it be that one day in the not-too-distant future they form a trio in the rotation for the Red Sox?

Oh, they’ve thought about it.

“Yeah, I think the cool part about us three is that we don't really approach it as ‘by ourselves.’ I think the way we think about it is together. It’s like, ‘When we get there together.’ And we really understand that the dynamic that we have is special, so we all want to get there at the same time,” said Eyanson.

Whether or not that plan comes to fruition, make no mistake about it: These three 21-year-olds are all joined at the hip. Not to mention the same Spring Training house.

At the house, after a long day at the ballpark, they talk shop, play video games and, of course, find some time to eat.

“We go out to eat every now and then,” said Witherspoon. “But we are big DoorDash warriors. We love the DoorDash.”

Unlike the food delivery apps, which provide quick gratification, becoming a Major League pitcher is much more of a process.

The unique thing about these three pitchers is that they vow to push each other through all of it.

“Just being at the house, whatever we’re working on that day, we're always picking each other's brains trying to get through each other's thought process,” said Witherspoon. “Maybe I can steal something either one of them are thinking of, maybe they can do the same thing from me.”

While they root for each other, each one of them wants to be the best.

Witherspoon:

“I'm looking toward the season like, ‘Hey, if you get 10 punchies or something like that, I'm getting 11. How can you walk him right there? I’m not walking anybody.’”

Eyanson:

“As long as we're together, that's going to be the goal, is having that healthy, competitive environment. I think that we're all mature enough to help each other get better while keeping it competitive. Obviously punchies, strikeouts, that’s our big one. But I think just approaching every day, you want to outwork the next guy. And I think they just helped me have that mentality every day, which is going to separate me from other players.”

Phillips:

“There's definitely a competitive aspect to it. Wanting to throw harder than the other guys. I think that’s really good for all of us, to push each other from a competitive standpoint.”

As current No. 1 Red Sox prospect Payton Tolle proved last year, it’s hardly out of reach for a pitcher with major college experience to reach the Major Leagues the season after being drafted.

Could it happen for anyone in this trio, or – dare to dream – the entire group?

“Mentally, I’ve already [pitched at Fenway],” said Eyanson. “I’m going to say this year to be competitive. That's my goal. That's what I want personally. But obviously, I just want to do whatever is best for the program.”

“Being confident in myself and also very optimistic, I want to say this year,” Phillips said. “But obviously, only time will tell, and I don't have control of that, so I'm going to control what I can and I’m going to work my tail off and get there when I get there. It would be pretty special.”

“Whenever I can,” Witherspoon said. “I’m just trying to be where my feet are and trying to take it one step at a time and do all I can here, work my butt off, because I know that’s going to get me far. We've had that talk.  All of us just keep going in the right direction. Keep the right mentality. I know that we all can make a good push.”

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