Red Sox's Napoli expected to make spring debut Friday

Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters Monday that Mike Napoli is expected to make his spring training debut Friday and he will play first base.

Napoli ran the bases during the weekend and reported no issues with his hips.

Napoli has a medical condition called avascular necrosis, which can lead to bone death and degeneration. Both of his hips are affected by it.

A former catcher, Napoli has made a fulltime move to first base because of his condition. His three-year, $39 million contract that was agreed to in December was later scaled down to a one-year deal with $5 million guaranteed after his diagnosis was known.