Red Sox's Betts 'not really focusing so much on making the big league team'

Mookie Betts understands his time will come. 

The 22-year-old sped through the Boston Red Sox's minor-league system last season before reaching the majors, emerging as one of the team's brightest prospects and projects to play a significant role in the team's plans this season. 

However, with Dustin Pedroia locked in at second base and as many as seven players competing for time in the outfield, Betts admits he's focusing on his own game this spring and will let the team take care of where he'll fit in. 

"I feel as if I'm just getting ready for the season,” Betts told WEEI. "Whether it's in the big leagues, Triple-A, Double-A, wherever it is, I'm just getting ready for the season and not really focusing so much on making the big league team, just really just getting ready.

"Whatever (manager John) Farrell and (general manager Ben) Cherington, whatever they do is what's going to be best for the Red Sox. And if that's me sitting and watching, that's perfectly fine and I’ll just fill into my role."

Betts' main adversary for playing time comes in Shane Victorino, who entered camp healthy after missing all but 30 games a season ago. Farrell noted last week that the job in right field belongs to the veteran and Betts acknowledged that the competition for the spot hasn't soured their relationship. 

"Me and him, we talk pretty much every day because we all do our outfield work together and I've talked to him about a whole bunch of stuff," Betts said. "I think we're both looking at it as we're just getting ready for the season and competing, not against each other, but the other team and whoever's playing that day or whoever’s playing in general."