FORT MYERS, Fla. – Spring training games begin Friday, and by weekend’s end fans will get their first look at one of the biggest pitching acquisitions in recent Red Sox history.

Alex Cora announced Wednesday that Brian Van Belle will start the Friday exhibition game at home against Northeastern University (1:05 p.m. ET), with Quinn Priester going on Saturday when the Red Sox travel to Port Charlotte to face the Tampa Bay Rays (1:05 p.m. ET).

Left-hander Garrett Crochet has the ball on Sunday, for the first home game of Sox Spring. Crochet, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a sizable prospect bundle that included ’23 and ’24 first-round picks Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery, will go up against the Toronto Blue Jays. Crochet is coming off an All-Star season in which he posted a 3.58 ERA over 32 starts, with 209 strikeouts and just 33 walks in 146 innings.

Van Belle, 28, is a non-roster invitee. He’s been with the organization since ’21, and was promoted to Triple-A Worcester during the ’23 season. He spent the entire ’24 season with the WooSox, posting a 4.71 ERA over 30 games, including nine starts and six games finished.

The Red Sox acquired Priester, 24, from the Pirates at last summer’s trade deadline. Pittsburgh’s first round pick (18th overall) in ’19, Priester spent the entire rest of the season in Triple-A before getting called up to start for Boston on the final day of the season. For Priester, his first start of the preseason will be a rematch of that final game; his five innings of one-run ball propelled the Red Sox to victory over the Rays to finish the season at .500.

Cora also announced his starters – but not the lineup – for Friday’s game:

1B: Abraham Toro

2B: Kristian Campbell

SS: Marcelo Mayer

3B: Nick Sogard

LF: Roman Anthony

CF: Nate Eaton

RF: Jhostynxon Garcia

“One of the catchers” will serve as the designated hitter.