BOSTON — It appears that outfielder Ryan Westmoreland has become a member of the Boston Red Sox organization.

The Sox selected the Portsmouth native with their fifth-round pick (172nd overall) in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft in June.

Midnight last night was the deadline for players to sign, but the team did not make an official announcement. That’s expected to come some time today.

Westmoreland will earn, successively, $200,000, $300,000, $400,000, $500,000 and $600,000 over five years.

Westmoreland, who will forgo his scholarship at Vanderbilt University, will report to one of the Sox’ Single-A minor-league clubs.

One of the key reasons he wanted to turn pro was the fact that it was the Red Sox — his favorite team — that drafted him.

“It was overwhelming when I heard my named called out,” he said the night he was drafted in June. “It would be one thing just to be drafted, but then to go to the Boston Red Sox — my favorite team since I was 8 years old — takes it to a different level. To be drafted by the World [Series] 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 named Gatorade Rhode Island Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. He pitched a perfect game for Portsmouth last spring, striking out 19 of 21 batters he faced in a seven-inning game.