MANCHESTER -- Jacoby Ellsbury bought the postgame food spread from Fratello's on Wednesday, and Ryan Sweeney paid for Mexican food on Thursday.

It's sure nice hanging with big leaguers when you're earning about $1,500 per month in the minors, wondering how to pay for the next phone bill. Red Sox outfielders Carl Crawford, Ellsbury and Sweeney all have played for the Sea Dogs on rehabilitation assignments this week, entertaining huge crowds and helping give the young prospects a taste of the majors.

Sea Dogs outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr., who upstaged Crawford and Ellsbury with a four-hit night in the series opener against the Fisher Cats, sat back and marveled at the All-Star outfielders. The 22-year-old was motivated, too.

“In this game, you start out as a nobody and you want to be somebody,” said Bradley, who leads all minor leaguers with a .473 on-base percentage. “I just like being able to play on the same field with them and enjoy the time. What they've done throughout their careers is astonishing. It's a testament to how much they've worked at it and continued to perfect their craft.”

A season-best crowd of 8,544 came out for a July 4 walk-off win by the Fisher Cats. It didn't take a trained eye to recognize Bradley and fellow Red Sox prospect Bryce Brentz were among the most talented players on the field. The youngsters went 7-for-11 at the plate. During batting practice on Wednesday, Brentz showed just as much power as Ellsbury, who had 32 homers for the Red Sox last season.

Brentz, who homered off the Hilton Garden Inn last month, was impressed with Ellsbury's machine-like swing. The train tracks beyond right field were littered with baseballs after the 28-year-old Ellsbury took a round of BP in the series opener.

“It was great to see (Ellsbury) hit because he replicates the swing every time he steps in the cage. There's a consistency that I'm striving for,” said Brentz, who entered Thursday with a .296 average and 10 homers. “Our hitting coach (Dave Joppie) has been trying to get me to replicate that 'A' swing. You want to carry it into BP and not just the game.”

Brentz, Portland's right fielder, wasn't shy when it came to bouncing questions off Ellsbury. They were talking defense before Ellsbury paid for the Italian food spread.

“We were talking about how to shade (hitters) in the outfield and how do they do things like read swings (in the majors). That's the kind of thing the coaching staff always teaches us, but it's good to hear it from the guys who are up there playing,” Brentz said.

Ellsbury, a career .299 hitter, did not play for the Sea Dogs on Thursday and was not at the park. He told fans via Twitter that Thursday was a scheduled off day and that he's “Looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow!” Meaning he's ready to play against the Yankees? We'll find out today.

Bradley and Brentz may be wondering where they'll eventually fit into the lineup at Boston. Crawford, who ripped a triple in Game Two of the Sea Dogs-Fisher Cats series, is signed through 2017 and will earn $142 million. Ellsbury is earning $8 million this season and due for a contract extension. The young Sea Dogs must remember they are also playing for 29 other teams. Josh Reddick and Brandon Moss, former big-name Sea Dogs, recently played key roles in the A's sweep of Boston.

THE SHOW: New Hampshire reliever Sam Dyson, who made his pro debut at Advanced-A Dunedin in April, hopped a flight to Toronto and became the 56th Fisher Cat to reach the majors on Thursday. Dyson “shed a few tears” with his parents after he was given the news on Wednesday, following the Fisher Cats' 11-10 walk-off win. The South Carolina product missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery.

Dyson, 24, was called up to Double-A New Hampshire in May and allowed only two earned runs through 24 innings. He blew away Eastern League hitters with a 92-96-mph fastball that occasionally touched 97 and 98.

“The arm speaks for itself,” Blue Jays minor-league pitching coordinator Dane Johnson said. “He gets late action in the strike zone, and you don't see many good swings on him. That type of stuff will play in a lot of places.”

GAME DAY: Blue Jays prospect John Stilson (2-1, 3.18 ERA) makes his fifth start for the Fisher Cats tonight at 7:05. The Sea Dogs send to the mound lefty Drake Britton (1-2, 4.11 ERA). The evening will include with another fireworks show.

Outfielder Jake Marisnick, one of the top prospects in Toronto's system, was promoted to New Hampshire and inserted into the lineup at leadoff on Thursday. The Red Sox, meanwhile, placed farmhand Anthony Ranaudo (shoulder fatigue) on the disabled list. The power righty, also an elite prospect, is expected to return after the Eastern League All-Star break. Ranaudo has posted a 1-3 record and 6.69 ERA in his first Double-A season.

Staff writer Kevin Gray covers pro baseball for the New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News. His email address is kgray@unionleader.com.