In Red Sox Nation, even the most mundane tasks are treated like major stories. When the organization packs up the trucks with equipment for spring training, the breathless Boston media is all over it. So as a high-ceiling prospect, Michael Bowden will be an almost daily focus in Fort Myers, Fla.

The early word is that the Waubonsie Valley graduate is bigger and may add to his pitching arsenal. The Boston Globe reports:

Asked about (Bowden), (manager Terry) Francona said the pitcher is "about 10 pounds stronger, which is good." Bowden said he bulked up this offseason from 227 pounds to 231 while doing two stints at Athletes' Performance (Institute) in Pensacola, Fla.

Globe columnist Nick Cafardo offers this dispatch from Florida in a blog notebook:

Bowden was one of the stars at the Athletes Performance Insitute this offseason. Overall, he's gained about 10 pounds of muscle and he says while it's too early to see the gains on the mound, he said, "My throwing sessions so far have been great. I feel a lot stronger." Bowden also hinted the Sox might be working on a new pitch with him. He said nothing has been said yet, but he expects to be working on something new, maybe a different changeup.

The rise of Bowden is a story that won't be going away anytime soon.