BOSTON — He sat in front of his locker, in between those of J.D. Drew and Alex Cora. Nearby, ESPN's Peter Gammons spoke with Cora, Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia.

Brandon Moss sat and smiled.

"I'm missing Rochester," he said.

I bet.

"Just kidding," Moss said.

Moss could be a regular for the Pawtucket Red Sox, playing in the International League. Or he could be at Fenway Park, unsure when he will get into Boston's lineup, or how long he will stay.

As it turns out, injuries to Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury have given Moss a chance to play more than he expected. But still, he knows his time in the bigs will eventually come to an end, for now.

"It's better to be here and then not here, and then be here and then not here, than to not be here at all," he said.

If you were able to follow all that, you get the point. Moss doesn't mind bouncing between the majors and minors.

"At least I get to come up here and enjoy this and be a part of the team for a little while," he said.

Moss spent 2005-06 with the Portland Sea Dogs, then began last season in Pawtucket. He was called up twice to Boston and had a .280 average in 15 games.

He's currently a spare part for the Red Sox, filling in when someone is injured. Moss began the season as Boston's starting right fielder because of Drew's sore back. He returned to the Red Sox last week as the backup first baseman because Sean Casey is hurt (sore hip), then entered Tuesday's game against Toronto because Drew felt his quadriceps tighten up.

With Drew out and Ellsbury nursing a sore groin muscle, Moss started Wednesday and played a part in the ninth-inning, winning rally.

Moss was again in the starting lineup Thursday, in right field.

His first game of the season was memorable, and not just because it was the opener in Tokyo.

Moss hit his first major league home run in that game, drilling a Huston Street change-up for a tying homer in the ninth inning against Oakland. The Red Sox won in 10 innings, 6-5.

"It was one of those things that you dream for it to happen, and it happens," he said. "It happened fast, too. I don't remember rounding the bases, but it was definitely a good feeling."

Moss started the second game in Japan and then returned with the Red Sox for three exhibition games in Los Angeles. From there, the team went to Oakland, while Moss joined the Triple-A team in Pawtucket.

"Japan was awesome. We loved it," said Moss, who brought along his wife, Allison. "But it took a toll on me."

Moss was hitting .268 with one home run and 12 RBI for Pawtucket. He knew he was a call away, and when Casey hobbled around third base last Friday, Moss was soon flying to St. Petersburg, Fla., to rejoin the Sox.

"We don't want (Moss) to sit here and not play," Boston Manager Terry Francona said after Moss was on the bench during the Tampa Bay series last weekend.

Francona sees Moss as still developing. Because Moss has been in the organization since 2002, people might not realize he's only 24. He signed with the Red Sox out of high school.

The Red Sox have brought him along slowly, including those two years with the Sea Dogs (he was MVP of the 2006 Eastern League championship series). Last year, he added first base to his resume, making himself more valuable.

For now, bouncing back and forth between the majors and minors isn't so bad. Moss remembers watching Kevin Youkilis split time between Boston and Pawtucket in 2004-05.

"I mean, Youk did that, and now look at him," Moss said. "He's a good major league player, solid everywhere. He's going to have a long career."

Moss paused. He liked the sound of that -- good major league player with the promise of a long career.

"I hope the same for myself," Moss said, smiling as always.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com