Scott Atchison's Spring

Scott Atchison was a Timber Rattlers pitcher in 1999.

He has has brief major league stints with the Mariners ('04 & '05) and the San Francisco Giants ('07).

He spent the last two seasons playing for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Central League.

This year, he is having a very nice spring with the Red Sox.

The right-hander, who turns 34 on March 29, was successful overseas, posting a 2.77 ERA in 194 2/3 innings in his two years with the Tigers. However, Atchison has wanted to return to the United States to pitch in the major leagues since he left.

"I always felt, if nothing else, I'd come back and try to play one more time over here," Atchison said. "It worked out that two years was enough [in Japan]. I still feel great, and I still feel I can do this for a while. I just have to keep proving myself and keep doing that."

Terry Francona has not made any final decisions on his bullpen, but he likes what he sees in Atchison.

"He's done a great job," Francona said. "His regular season already started. He's throwing three pitches for strikes. He's got the fastball, cutter, changeup. He throws strikes and gets some outs."

And here is an Atchison related update in a live blog by Tony Lee of NESN from yesterday's game with the Twins.

Mid 6th, Red Sox 8-4: It remains to be seen how the Red Sox' bullpen will look going north, but Scott Atchison has done everything he can to make his case.

Since coming on for Clay Buchholz in the fifth, Atchison worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just a two-out single in the sixth to Jim Thome.

With the effort Atchison has now allowed just two earned runs in 11 innings.

I am pulling for the former 49th round pick from the '98 draft.