FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – The Boston Red Sox have appointed former pitcher Bruce Hurst as special instructor for player development.

Hurst will evaluate players and act as an on-field pitching instructor in the Red Sox’s minor league system.

He was on hand for the first two weeks of spring training and also took part in the rookie development program last month.

The left-hander had a 145-113 record and a 3.92 ERA in 379 major league games with four teams. He pitched for the Red Sox from 1980 to 1988, winning 88 games.

Hurst won two games in the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets, which Boston ultimately lost in seven games.

Hurst spent four years as the pitching coach for China’s national team, including during the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

AP-ES-02-25-08 1054EST