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Betts, Castillo among 10 at rookie program

The Boston Red Sox announced Monday the 10 players who will take part in this year’s Rookie Development Program.

Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo, Sean Coyle, Edwin Escobar, Heath Hembree, Brian Johnson, Henry Ramos, Eduardo Rodriguez, Zeke Spruill and Blake Swihart have been tabbed as the participants. Of the 10, only Swihart has been a part of the program before, participating last year.

The program, designed to help ease young players in their transition to becoming major-leaguers with the Red Sox, begins Monday at Fenway Park. Activities include workouts, seminars, meetings with front-office executives and the major league coaching staff, and a visit to Jimmy Fund patients.

Five of the 10 participants -- Betts, Castillo, Escobar, Hembree and Spruill -- already have major league experience.