McAdam: Travis Lakins and Darwinzon Hernandez get a crash course from Red Sox stars

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In the relative privacy provided by a half-dozen pitching mounds, way in the back of Fenway South, the Red Sox spring training complex, the mainstays of the Sox' starting rotation threw side sessions Saturday morning.

There was former Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello, followed by former Cy Young winner David Price, followed by Chris Sale, who has finished in the top five in Cy Young voting in each of the last five seasons.

Also joining the group: Travis Lakins and Darwinzon Hernandez, two of the organization's top pitching prospects, who, at first blush, seemed out of place. Lakins has reached Triple-A in his career path while Hernandez finished 2018 at Double-A Portland.

But there was a reason the two were grouped with the team's front line starters.

"We take pride in teaching the game,'' said Alex Cora, "and preparing guys to come up (to the big leagues). That's the bottom line. We know they're going to contribute (at some point), so it's good for them to hang around the 1-2-3-4-5 of the rotation. If you're a lefty (as Hernandez) is, those two (Sale and Price) are pretty good. It's good for them to hang around. They did a good job with a few guys last year and it paid off, so it's part of what I believe.

"I'm not a big believer that just because it's your first (major league) spring training camp, you have to be isolated and you can't hang out with established players. With spring training as long as it is, there's time to learn. It was a good day for them to hang around.''

Price, Sale and Porcello are known to be invested in helping the development of young pitchers. The trio continually pushed Eduardo Rodriguez the last two years and helped him with his delivery, his grip of certain pitches and shared their workout plans and preparation routines. Now they're willing to do the same for those still navigating their way though the minors.

"They're great,'' said Cora. "It's good sometimes to just sit down and listen and learn.''

Lakins, who split time between the Portland and Pawtucket bullpen last season, could hardly believe his good fortune. He was among three All-Stars, all offering him tutelage.

"It's still a little surreal to me,'' he said. "This is a dream, since I've been 4 years old, to be around this group of guys. I'm still taking it in, day-by-day, and listening to everything they have to say. Right now, I'm just soaking it all in.''

Even when they weren't offering instruction, Lakins could learn just by observing how they went about their business.

"To learn from these type of players,'' he said, "is a once in a lifetime experience. It's going to help me a lot. They're the best of the best and just listening to them every day is going to help on the field, but off the field as well. Even being around them, I'm kind of at a loss for words.''

Hernandez was no less star-struck and at times, had to tell himself to relax as he threw his side, knowing that a group of major league stars was watching his every move.

"In that moment, I focused on calming myself down and just doing my job,'' he said. "I knew that they were watching, but I really wanted to control myself because I knew that they were watching. When I found out I was going to (be in the same group), it was exciting. I actually look up to those guys and follow (their careers). To see how they went about their work was very exciting for me. I try to take advantage of every opportunity and to be put with those guys, who have been in the game and know what they're doing and can help you out, is a big deal for me.''

What's more exciting for Lakins and Hernandez is the knowledge that they were given this opportunity precisely because the Red Sox feel they're both on the cusp of contributing to the Red Sox at some point in 2019 -- Lakins as a reliever, and Hernandez as either a depth starter option or someone who could provide a power arm from the left side in the bullpen.

It's likely that helping them to get there will be something they picked up on some back mounds on a mid-February morning.