Why Red Sox enlisted Jason Varitek, 53, to hit batting practice for fantasy football

Red Sox legend Jason Varitek took batting practice Tuesday at Fenway Park to determine the order of the team’s 2025 fantasy football draft.

Each baseball contained the name of a different player, coach or staff member participating in the fantasy football league, with the draft order determined by which balls Varitek hit the farthest.

Varitek, a switch-hitter during his 15-year major league career, batted from the right side. Red Sox players went ballistic when the 53-year-old game planning and run prevention coach fouled a ball off the top of the batting cage.

Players rushed to see whose name was on the foul ball. It belonged to right-handed reliever Greg Weissert, who became the unlucky fantasy team owner with the final pick.

Players also cheered as Varitek hit the wall with one swing.

The Orioles also determined their drafted order before Tuesday’s game at Fenway by throwing nerf footballs off the Green Monster.

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