PAWTUCKET — He is no longer Mr. Anonymity.

For the first time in his eight-year minor-league career, Dusty Brown’s name appears on a major-league roster.

The World Champion Boston Red Sox have added the catching prospect to the 40-man roster along with fellow receivers Jason Varitek, Doug Mirabelli and George Kottaras. Just because Brown, 25, was selected in the 35th round (1,052nd overall) in the 2000 draft, most would think he’s fourth on the depth chart of Red Sox catchers but that’s not the case.

He has proven to be a solid catcher with strong defensive skills, a strong arm and has the ability to call and control a game. His offensive numbers need work, but the Red Sox feel he has a future behind the plate.

“He does a good job defensively,” said Red Sox director of player development Mike Hazen. “He’s a good catch-and-throw guy and he runs a good pitching staff. The basics of a catcher at the major-league level are that and he can do all those things very well. . . We feel he’s going to be a major-league catcher.”

Kottaras, who was acquired from San Diego to complete the deal for David Wells in September 2006, struggled for the Pawtucket Red Sox last season and missed an opportunity to play in Boston when a sore knee kept him sidelined when the Red Sox needed a backup.

Instead Cash went and was brought along as a nonroster player for the postseason.

Cash recently re-signed with Boston, leaving a traffic jam of potential catchers in Pawtucket.

But, according to Hazen, there’s a possibility to keep the three at Triple-A level via another position, mainly as a designated hitter.

If Brown can prove his worth in spring training, he could find himself behind Varitek in the near future.

“The Red Sox are coming into a situation where there’s going to be a turnover somewhere in the next few years,” said Brown. “I’m sure Varitek will play as long as he wants to and as long as he’s healthy. The backup spot could be up for grabs in the next few years, and ultimately I would love to play behind Varitek and take over his job when he decides to step down.”

Brown, however, isn’t just focusing on the Red Sox job because he knows the state of catching league-wide is something to be desired and if another team comes looking for big-league help he said he’ll be ready. “Regardless of what happens with this organization, if I don’t get that opportunity with this organization then somewhere along the line I’ll get that opportunity,” said Brown.

Brown uses many things to motivate himself, and one such motivator is the fact he has played under a virtual shadow when it comes to fans, the media and the rest of the baseball world.

“It fuels my fire a little bit,” he said. “I read the articles, but I don’t take it to heart. I like to make jokes that nobody, [even] the baseball writers even know I exist. I’ll read stuff about guys underneath me, ahead of me but I know whose opinion really matters. If I don’t get the press or the credit for being a decent player, it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s just kind of funny.”

If he wants to succeed The Captain, then Brown will have to make strides with his bat. The 6-foot, 180-pounder split time between Portland and Pawtucket in 2007 and combined for a .260 average with 9 homers and 46 RBI in 77 games.

When he arrived at McCoy Stadium late last season due to Cash’s call-up, Brown appeared in eight games for the PawSox and hit .185 with three RBI before he was sent back to Portland. Because of his potential the Red Sox sent him to play in the Arizona Fall League where he hit .273 in 15 games and earned a spot on the AFL’s Top Prospects Team, which means he is projected to be a major-league catcher.

By the way, the masked man can catch a knuckleball.

Brown has worked with both minor-league knucklers Charlie Zink and Josh Barnes and says he’s comfortable and confident with the dancing pitch. That ability is also a motivational factor for Brown heading into spring training.

“It wasn’t a secret last year that I can catch a knuckleball,” he said. “If they want to give me a chance in spring training then I will run with it. I may not get that chance with them re-signing Mirabelli, but I think I’ve made enough of an impression with my ability to catch the knuckleball that if something were to happen, they would have the confidence in me.”

jmcdonal@projo.com