By Ed Farrell

Herald Assistant Sports Editor

NILES — Father’s Day arrived early this year for Mike Greenwell.

The former Boston Red Sox standout left fielder visited the Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ recent media day session where his son, Bo, also was introduced as a member of the 2009 squad.

Bo Greenwell is a 20-year-old, 6-foot, 185-pound lefthanded-hitting outfielder. After being taken in the 6th round of the ’07 draft the Alva, Fla. native spent the ’08 season with the Indians’ Gulf Coast League affiliate where he hit .263 with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs and 14 RBI.

The younger Greenwell likely will start in left field when the Scrappers welcome the Jamestown Jammers in the ’09 New York-Penn League Pinckney Division opener, 7:05 p.m. today at Eastwood Field.

Mike Greenwell was a career .303 hitter in 11 seasons with the Bosox (he then played 1 year for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan), launching 130 home runs and driving in 726 runs. He was a 2-time American League All-Star.

“When I retired, I kind’ve got away from the game. I had never been back to Fenway Park for 10 years, (and) last year was the first time I’d been back,” related Mike Greenwell, who was inducted into the Red Sox’s Hall of Fame. “There was really no reason why I didn’t (return to Fenway); I’d just kind’ve turned that page and I started spending time with my family, being a regular dad, raising my kids.

“But I love the fact that Bo’s in the game now, because I get around now. I run into (Scrappers’ manager) Travis Fryman, (assistant coach) Phil Clark and these guys, I hadn’t seen them in years, and all the old baseball stories come back.”

It’s interesting Mike Greenwell had not visited Fenway for years following his retirement, for as he related regarding his return, “I kind’ve got goose bumps when I walked in. I remembered that same feeling when I first walked into Fenway Park — it was the first time I had ever seen a big-league park; I had never been to a big-league game until I was wearing the uniform. I remember that feeling of looking out and going, ‘Wow!’”

But Bo Greenwell emphasized, “I’m making a name for myself, and that’s been the biggest thing since I became a professional baseball player. I’m just looking to make a name for myself; make my own way. (Work-ethic) was instilled in me when I was young. I was brought up to out-work everybody, out-hustle everybody, to be the first one to the locker room and the last one to leave. Being taught that has meant everything.

“He was just ‘dad,’ and when he walked away from the game, he really did just walk away from the game. It was a good thing and a bad thing,” the youngster continued. “It was a good thing because we lived on the outskirts of Fort Myers, and when he decided to be done with the game, that was it. He raised us the way he wanted to raise his two kids. ... He’s been with me every step of the way, but never pushed me to play the game. He let me develop a love for the game, which I think is so important. I developed the fire to want to be successful in this game, and I love him for that.”

When Mike retired, Bo was a 9-year-old whose most vivid recollection of his father’s playing career was infamous.

“I remember him getting ‘beaned’ on the head on his 30th birthday by Randy Johnson. I remember that very clearly. There’s nothing like watching dad just fall on his face on home plate on his birthday,” the youngster recalled with a chuckle, adding, “But I do remember hanging out in the clubhouse with Mo Vaughn, Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, all the guys coming up to me and giving me a cherry-Coke after the games. It helped me see that life, and I still remember that, even though I was young, and I’m eager to get there. It’s pushing me,” he added.