Foxborough Natives Bayuk, Nicklas Pitching for Boston College Against Boston Red Sox Thursday

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Foxborough natives and Boston College pitchers Nate Bayuk and John Nicklas have the chance to take the mound against Major League hitters Thursday as BC scrimmages the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla.

Thursday's scrimmage is part of split-squad doubleheader for Red Sox, who take the field against Northeastern at 1:30 p.m. The BC game will follow 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell said on MLB.com that he would be staying away from his starting pitchers for the two exhibition games against the collegiate players Thursday, opting to work out his relievers.

"On the two college games, that will serve as somewhat of an intrasquad type game for us," said Farrell on the team's website. "You'll see a number of guys go to the mound for one inning. Mostly guys that are in camp as relievers on those first two days. You'll probably see 14 different pitchers run to the mound on Thursday."

Farrell is expected to split the position players into different groups to play in the two exhibition games.

Bayuk, a lefthanded reliever out of the Eagles' bullpen, is a graduate student for BC. In his career, Bayuk is 7-6 with a 4.49 earned run average and began the 2013 season with 84 career strikeouts in 112.1 innings. 

Last year, the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder had a 2.76 earned run average in 23 relief appearances, striking out 34 batters while allowing just 10 earned runs and six walks. Bayuk is a Xaverian Brothers' alum.

Nicklas, who was a three-time all-star at St. Sebastian's, is a freshman righthander for the Eagles. In the first three games of the 2013 season, Nicklas has pitched a third of an inning, giving up two hits and two walks out of the bullpen.

For more on the Boston College baseball program, click here.