That 2005 draft continues to shine, while other drafts are looking good ...

Infielder Jed Lowrie was one of three sandwich draft picks (a sandwich is an extra pick between the first & second round) in 2005. He joined the Red Sox Thursday night, replacing the injured Mike Lowell (sprained thumb).

That means the top four Red Sox picks have made it to the majors - Jacoby Ellsbury, Craig Hansen, Clay Buchholz (tonight's starter) and Lowrie. (Hansen is back in Triple-A, for now)

It will be interesting if manager Terry Francona puts the switch-hitting Lowrie in the lineup tonight, against the Yankees. He usually plays new players ASAP to get that first game out of the way.

Speaking of that 2005 draft, someday the Red Sox expect to say their top FIVE picks from that year have made it to the majors. The fifth player taken (also a sandwich pick) was 21-year-old pitcher Michael Bowden, who gets the start tonight in the Sea Dogs home opener.

Now let's see how some other draft picks are doing:

In Triple-A, Brandon Moss (8th round, 2002) went 2-3 on Thursday and is batting .370 (If Alex Cora goes on the DL after hurting his arm Thursday, Moss could get called back to the majors).

Also in Triple-A, Aba Alvarez (2nd, 2003) is looking better as a reliever after two more hitless innings (0 BB, 2K) ... Lefty Jon Swisher (minor league free agent) kept his ERA at 0.00 and got his first save. I only bring up Swisher because he may be an option if the Red Sox give up on Javier Lopez.

In advanced Class A Lancaster, Reid Engel (5th, 2005) keeps hitting. He went 2-for-4 Thursday with a homer, and his average actually dropped, to .465.

In lower Class A Greenville, outfielder Josh Reddick (17th, 2006) reamains hot (3-for-4, .375) ... and lefty Nick Hagadone (sandwich, 2007) picked up his first win (5 IP, 2H, 0 BB, 7 K).

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