FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Enrique Wilson is willing to go to Triple-A Pawtucket with hopes of rejoining the Boston Red Sox during the season.

“I don’t have a choice,” the utility infielder said Wednesday. “If something happens or somebody gets hurt, I think I’m going to be (in Boston) but I’ve got to wait and go to Pawtucket and work hard and wait for my chance.”

Manager Terry Francona said the Red Sox told Wilson they’d like him to go to Pawtucket, although he hasn’t been sent there yet. Alex Cora is Boston’s utility infielder and is hitting .227 in six games after playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

Wilson appeared in 15 games with just 22 at bats last year for the Chicago Cubs. but played all four infield positions. He signed with the Red Sox during the offseason as a non-roster player but his contract does not allow him to choose free agency.

Choi on way out

First baseman Hee-Seop Choi sat out Wednesday’s game with a left hamstring injury suffered during Boston’s 10-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night as the Red Sox appear intent on sending him to Pawtucket.

Righty hitting Kevin Youkilis will start on opening day Monday at Texas, Francona said. His backup is lefty J.T. Snow.

“I think Youk has had a great spring,” Francona said. “He’s still commanding the strike zone but his swings get more aggressive.”

The 25-man opening day roster is expected to include pitchers Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, Matt Clement, Keith Foulke, Mike Timlin, Jon Papelbon, Julian Tavarez, Rudy Seanez, David Riske and Lenny DiNardo; catchers Jason Varitek and Josh Bard; first basemen Youkilis and Snow; infielders Mark Loretta, Alex Gonzalez, Mike Lowell and Cora; outfielders Ramirez, Coco Crisp, Trot Nixon, Wily Mo Pena and Adam Stern, and designated hitter David Ortiz. Francona has said pitcher David Wells will start the season on the disabled list and be activated before his scheduled first start April 12.

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STICKING WITH LOWELL:Third baseman Lowell has been better with his glove than his bat, but Francona said he’s not worried about his hitting.

“I think he’s going to do fine,” the manager said.

Lowell is coming off one of his worst seasons since he began playing for Florida in 1999 after appearing in eight games with the New York Yankees in 1998. He had career-lows last year of a .236 batting average and eight homers and drove in 58 runs.

This spring he is batting .267 in 17 games with no homers and one RBI. In Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Pittsburgh, he had an infield single, a strikeout and a walk.

“He’s a very good defensive player, solid guy. He’ll take a walk and he’s not going to hit fourth,” Francona said. “There’s a lot of times when guys come out of April with not a stellar batting average, but you know they’re fine.”

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FOULKE SETBACK:Keith Foulke had the poorest of his three major-league relief outings Wednesday. He allowed his first hit, a single by Jeromy Burnitz, and a blast by Joe Randa that Ramirez caught for the third out as he crashed into the left field wall.

“I thought he left a couple of changeups up” in his only inning, the fifth, Francona said. “I don’t think he was quite as sharp as he has been. He’ll bounce back.”

Foulke is expected to pitch Thursday against Cincinnati and Saturday against Philadelphia.

AP-ES-03-29-06 1732EST