westmoreland

BOSTON — Ryan Westmoreland hasn’t slept in four days.

There may be a few more sleepless nights for the Portsmouth High School senior before reality sets in that he became a member of the Boston Red Sox organization last night.

The Red Sox selected Westmoreland as the last pick of the fifth round (172nd overall) in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft yesterday. He was surrounded by family and friends at home when he heard he was picked by his favorite team.

He began watching the draft on ESPN at 2 p.m. and continued to keep track of it on the Web throughout the day until his name was announced.

“It was overwhelming when I heard my named called out,” he said. “It would be one thing just to be drafted, but then to go to the Boston Red Sox — my favorite team since I was eight years old — takes it to a different level. To be drafted by the World Champions and to be associated with that ball club is just great.”

The 6-foot-2 195-pounder, who throws right and bats left, was recently named Gatorade Rhode Island Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. He recently pitched a perfect game for Portsmouth, striking out 19 of 21 batters he faced in the seven-inning game. He’s had the type of high school career — both on the playing fields and in the classroom — that Hollywood scripts are made of.

It got a whole lot better last night.

“It really is a dream come true,” Westmoreland said. “Ever since I’ve been young, I’ve wanted to play professional baseball. I’ve always pictured myself at Fenway, and it might actually become a reality.”

The next step for Westmoreland is to decide whether he’ll turn pro or attend Vanderbilt University, where a promising collegiate career awaits. Before Westmoreland decides what his future will hold, he and his agent, Providence-based Alan Nero, will wait for an offer from the Red Sox.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to work something out; if not, I’ll be going to Vanderbilt,” Westmoreland said. “If so, it will be unbelievable. . . . It’s been a pretty long day. It started at 2 o’clock and it’s been pretty long and stressful. It all worked out in the end, which is great.”

His baseball coach, Dave Ulmschneider, was by his side when the announcement was made.

“It’s been a long day, but worth every minute of it,” Ulmschneider said. “He’s a special kid, and the fact he was picked by the Red Sox is outstanding for him. We’re all very happy for him and proud of him.”

The Red Sox have been very interested in Westmoreland. So much so that director of player personnel Ben Cherington showed up at one of his games and asked him to take some postgame batting practice with a wood bat.

That’s when Westmoreland realized something special could happen.

It did last night.

“We hope to sign him,” said Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. “He has a very high ceiling. He’s a great character guy with a great family. He had a great career in Rhode Island.”

After the Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-1, last night at Fenway Park, Rhode Island native and Rays’ relief pitcher Dan Wheeler knows all too well how Westmoreland was feeling last night.

“Just enjoy it,” was Wheeler’s advice. “My dream as a kid was to play professional baseball. You need to enjoy every moment of it, listen to your coaches and try their suggestions, if you don’t like it talk it out; just little things like that. Just be opened-minded and go out there and have some fun. After I was drafted I was pretty excited. I sat down and thought about it — a major-league team just drafted me. It was awesome, just a dream come true.”

jmcdonal@projo.com