Brandon Magee switches from Buccaneers to Red Sox

FORT MYERS, Fla. — On Tuesday, Brandon Magee was a Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker. On Wednesday, he became a Boston Red Sox outfielder.

A day after he was cut by the Bucs, Magee reported to minor league spring training.

''Just getting acclimated,'' Red Sox director of player development Ben Crockett said Thursday. ''He's been out of baseball activity since he was with us last summer. We're just getting a look at him physically. He took a few swings in the cage this morning. Threw out to, I think, 90 feet.''

Magee played both sports at Arizona State, wasn't picked in the 2013 NFL draft and signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He was released, signed by Cleveland and played in eight games from the Browns. He was claimed by Tampa Bay last July and appeared in nine games last season, mostly on special teams.

''I'm grateful for the opportunity they gave me at the time,'' Magee told the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday. ''Right now, I'm focused on spring training.''

Boston spokesman Kevin Gregg said Magee will not speak with reporters for a few days because the team wants to give him time to get situated.

Now 24, Magee was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 29th round of baseball's 2008 amateur draft, then by the Red Sox in the 23rd round in 2012. He signed with the Red Sox and attended minor league spring training in 2014.

''Really didn't get into games,'' Crockett said. ''Just baseball activity. Little bit of BP (batting practice) at the end.''

Crockett doesn't know where Magee might start his pro baseball career, but it appears it will be with a low-level affiliate. Magee's release by the Bucs surprised the Red Sox.

''We were hoping to get a chance to see him here towards the end of spring training,'' Crockett said. ''He had some football commitments prior to that, once that was resolved we were hoping to get him.

''He's been a tremendous person in all of our exposure to him,'' Crockett added. ''We're excited to have both the player and the person.''