PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Sandy Leon, the newest member of the Red Sox, has a limited amount of time to show the Red Sox what he can offer and make the team.
On Tuesday, he began his introduction. Leon was 1-for-2 as he caught five innings behind the plate, catching four different Red Sox relievers.
"It was kind of exciting to play," said Leon, who was obtained from Washington Monday morning and joined the Red Sox Monday evening, "and learn some of the new pitchers. I feel good. In the first inning, I was a little nervous. But (catching four different pitchers in five innings) was good for me."
"He looked like he had a pretty good feel for reading some swings," said John Farrell in evaluating Leon's afternoon, "and receiving guys he's never seen before. He's quiet (doesn't move a lot) behind the plate, and those are things we knew from our scouting report. Anything other than that, we're five innings into our observation. First look, as advertised."
It's been a whirlwind for Leon, who will have an accelerated learning curve in joining a new organization late in spring training. That would be challenging for any player, but it's doubly so for a catcher, who has the added responsibility of learning an entire pitching staff.
"First, I want to make the team,'' said Leon of the timetable for getting acclimated. "I might take a couple of weeks to get used to everyone -- the teammates, the coaches and know all the names. But I feel great right now. This is a great opportunity for me."
Leon is a defense-first catcher who said his chief strengths are "throwing to bases and calling a game.''
Video study, he noted, can only help so much.
"I like to catch a lot of bullpens," he said, "and see how (pitchers) throw, what they have, maybe talk with them. I really like to work."
Leon is out of options, which should have give him an edge over fellow backup Humberto Quintero.
"They traded for me for (a reason)," said Leon of his chances. "I think it's going to be good for me. I'll just have to wait (for a few days) and see what happens."
In one sense, the Red Sox have already benefited from Leon's presence. On Tuesday morning, he gave his scouting report on the Nationals, whom the Red Sox host for a three-game series in their home series of the season.
"I went over the hitters, how they hit, who can run, who's not going to run,'' said Leon. "I think I can help a lot (in preparing). We already had that meeting."