Six players from the 2008 Portland Sea Dogs will be invited to their first major league spring training camp next month, Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen confirmed today.

Pitchers Daniel Bard, Dustin Richardson and Kris Johnson, first baseman Lars Anderson, and outfielders Zach Daeges and Josh Reddick will take part as non-roster invitees.

Two other Dogs already on the 40-man roster, catcher Mark Wagner and shortstop Argenis Diaz, will also be there.

Hazen spoke during the media portion of the Red Sox annual Rookie Development Camp at Boston College. All eight aforementioned Sea Dogs are taking part, along with pitchers Richie Lentz, Felix Doubront, Wes Littleton and Adam Mills.

The camp's purpose is to take chosen minor league players, who may be close to a promotion to the major leagues, and give them a taste of what it is like to be in the majors.

Judging from the media's interest today, look for stories on Anderson, Bard and Wagner in Thursday's papers.

One more note: Hazen said first-round draft pick Casey Kelly, who played shortstop in 36 games last year after signing, will start the 2009 season as a pitcher. Hazen said Kelly will likely be limited to 100 innings.

Asked if Kelly would then move to shortstop, Hazen said, "we will re-evaluate that at the time."

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