New Boston shortstop Edgar Renteria is taking young prospect Hanley Ramirez under his wing.

01:00 AM EST on Monday, February 28, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Edgar Renteria picked up his bat and headed toward one of the practice fields at the Boston Red Sox minor-league complex the other day.

After a few steps, he stopped and turned back.

He called out to Hanley Ramirez, who was drinking water between workout drills. Renteria said a few words in Spanish. Ramirez quickly put down his bottle of water, grabbed his bat and hustled to keep pace with Renteria on the way to the next workout station.

It's all part of the Red Sox' unofficial mentoring program, an older brother/younger brother relationship that Boston officials hope will help in the continuing maturation process of Ramirez, their 21-year-old hot prospect.

This spring, the shortstops were put in the same workout group. They take ground balls together. They participate in rundown drills together. They take batting practice together.

And off the field, Renteria, a veteran of almost nine years in the major leagues at the age of 29, also has been hanging out with Ramirez at times, extending the big-league education course to important matters away from the field.

Renteria, who signed a four-year, $40-million free-agent contract during the offseason, is happy to help.

"If someone asks me, I will help to show him the way. He (Ramirez) is a good kid. He wants to work hard to make it to the major leagues," said Renteria, who was in the big leagues with Florida at the age of 21, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Ramirez, who met and played with

Renteria two years ago in winter ball in Ramirez's native Dominican Republic, is appreciative of the free advice he is getting.

"We talk about baseball, what it's like to be in the big leagues," said Ramirez, who hit .310 with 12 stolen bases in 62 games in Class A Sarasota and also .310 with 12 stolen bases in 32 games for Double-A Portland.

"We talk about how to prepare yourself mentally and physically. I'm so excited to be here. I'm just trying to get ready to be in the big leagues, trying to stay focused and keep working hard," added Ramirez.

One interesting aspect of the budding relationship is that Renteria's arrival, and long-term deal, directly affects Ramirez and his Red Sox future. While they both have similar long and lean body types, moving smoothly around the shortstop position, Renteria's contract suggests that if the Sox want Ramirez in the big leagues for themselves, he may have to shift positions.

There had been talk of moving Ramirez to center field or to second base after the acquisition of Renteria. But for now, Ramirez will stay at shortstop. He'll start his year either in Portland or Pawtucket.

It could come to pass that Ramirez might be prime trade bait should Boston need to fill a hole at the trading deadline in July, but that's the future. The present calls for Renteria's personal professionalism to rub off on Ramirez, who, after signing with the Red Sox as a 16-year-old, suffered through a few disciplinary problems early in his career.

"That's in the past," said Ramirez, a 6-foot-3, 195-pounder. "I learned from that. You have to grow up. When you get to the big leagues, you're not a baby anymore. You have to be a man."

And, say the Sox, there is no better role model on that score for Ramirez than Renteria, who also needed to go through a maturation process after leaving his native Colombia and joining the Marlins' organization as a 16-year-old.

"We've got a guy who is a pro, a guy who does everything right all the time," said manager Terry Francona. "We've got a young kid who is one of the top prospects not only in our organization, but in all of baseball. I don't think it can hurt (Hanley) to learn from Edgar."

"You have to be professional," said Renteria, a two-time Gold Glove winner with a winning hit in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series for the Marlins on his résumé.

"He (Ramirez) knows every step he has to take and most people will help him," said Renteria, who said his mentor was ex-big leaguer Tony Taylor. "You make mistakes when you're young. Dumb mistakes. You learn from them, but it's better if you learn before you make mistakes."

Renteria, meanwhile, has been impressed by Ramirez's athleticism.

"Oh, man, he's got more talent than anybody," said Renteria, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder. "I didn't have that talent when I was young."

But Renteria blossomed. And the Sox hope he can help Ramirez do likewise.

"Edgar is going out of his way to take Hanley under his wing," said general manager Theo Epstein. "And Hanley's smart enough to know he can learn a lot from Edgar."