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Daniel Nava, shown above taking grounders at first base, is working through neck discomfort but doesn't expect to miss an extended period of time (AP photo).

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Daniel Nava didn't take batting practice on Monday due to neck discomfort, but he remains hopeful he'll be ready for the Red Sox's first spring training games when they play Northeastern and Boston College on Thursday.

Nava said he woke up one day feeling stiff and he hasn't been able to look at the pitcher on the mound or swing a bat.

"It's just a minor little thing I'm working on," he said. "There's no point of going too fast and then all of a sudden we're set back two or three weeks. I've been out there for ground balls, throwing, shagging fly balls. The final step will be just getting swings down to make sure everything is good to go."

Nava, who has been getting work in at first base this spring to enhance his ability as the team's back-up at the position, could begin swinging a bat on Tuesday.

"Guys are taking different intensities right now, which is somewhat anticipated," manager John Farrell said. "But we don’t feel like there’s any delay in his game action or even a step a further, opening day."

Koji the closer?

After Koji Uehara's record-setting season a year ago, he was asked about being the closer again in 2014.

"I feel that I still have to earn it," he said Monday. "I'm just preparing accordingly to win that position."

Farrell has said he plans on using Uehara in the ninth inning. So far in camp, the soon-to-be 39-year-old is flashing good stuff.

"I was impressed with the arm speed he had in the bullpen before live BP," Farrell said. "He feels fresh physically."

Another option at third base, left field

Brandon Snyder, who was with the Red Sox for a couple of months last season but only registered 50 at-bats, has continued to workout at third base.

"I’ve done it long enough now, it’s like my fourth year doing it," Snyder said. "It’s been long enough that I’ve gotten a feel for it."

Farrell said Snyder could be a depth option at third. Snyder has also asked to play some left field to increase his versatility. He's likely to start the year in the minors but remains hopeful to make an impact with the Red Sox in some capacity this year.

"This is an organization that wants to win and last year kind of proved it to me that you just have to do your part and keep doing it and good things will happen," he said. "You see guys like Nava and (Mike) Carp, Jonny (Gomes) – Jonny was a bench player his whole career. He’s still a bench player but now he’s gotten himself where he did his part and did it so well that now he’s in another category, trying to get himself ready."

Bringing the heat

Dalier Hinojosa, the right-handed pitcher from Cuba who was signed in October, impressed during a live batting practice session on Monday. The 28-year-old projects as a reliever and could see time with the Red Sox this year.

"That’s our view right now," Farrell said. "And I think until we see him to grade out his stuff – I mean we’ve certainly gotten scouting reports on his pitch mix – but until we see him a few times, our thoughts right now at the major league level is that he’d help us coming out of the bullpen. But long-term, I wouldn’t limit it to just that."