FORT MYERS, Fla. — For the first time in spring training, the Red Sox had all three of their outfielders on the field together. Jackie Bradley Jr. was in center field against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday afternoon with Mookie Betts in right and Rusney Castillo over in left.

Watching from the dugout, Rick Porcello wished he were pitching.

“Three outfielders like that, they can change everything about your outing,’’ the righthander said. “A well-hit ball lands on the grass and you have a runner on second and you’re in a tight spot. Everything changes when it’s caught and those guys seem to catch everything.’’

Bradley has yet to play a full season in the majors but was a Gold Glove finalist in 2014 and showed the same remarkable range over the final two months of last season. He has 18 assists in 232 career games and been involved in 10 double plays, three more than any other major league outfielder in the last three seasons.

Betts was the team’s center fielder for much of last season and played the position at a high level. He was shifted to right field in September when Bradley started playing regularly.

Betts would give the Red Sox the same level of play Shane Victorino did in right field in 2013. Having a center fielder play Fenway Park’s expansive right field is a significant advantage.

“It’s been fine,’’ Betts said. “I’m used to being out there because I’ve done it before. The communication with Jackie is great. We’ll talk before the pitch about what we want to do.

“I think the three of us can be great. We have to keep working. Defense is just effort, and all three of us put in a lot of effort defensively.’’

Castillo has not been much of a hitter since being signed out of Cuba in 2014. But he showed himself to be adept at playing left field last season, saving 15 runs, according to one defensive metric.

“It’s an impressive group defensively, no question about it,’’ said Chris Young, a 10-year veteran who will back up at three spots. “They showed last season they could really play defense. With another year working together, they’re going to be even better. I’m trying to catch up to them so we can all be on the same page.’’

Barring injury, the Sox are sure to start the season with the alignment they used on Monday. Betts is on the verge of stardom after a strong 2015 season. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wants Bradley and Castillo in the lineup, believing their time has come.

As president of the Detroit Tigers, Dombrowski was interested in trading for Bradley before the 2015 season and wanted to sign Castillo in 2014.

“That part makes you feel confident, that he likes what I can do,’’ said Bradley, who reached base twice against the Rays and is 5 for 8 in four games. “I’m not assuming anything. I know I have to earn my place in the lineup. But it’s exciting to think what our outfield can do.’’

Defensively, the Red Sox could have one of the best outfields in the game. The Rays, led by Gold Glove center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, led the majors with 44 runs saved last season. The Diamondbacks, Royals, Mets, and Cardinals also had strong defensive units.

A full season of Betts, Bradley, and Castillo could produce 40 or more runs saved. That improves all aspects of the team, particularly the pitching staff.

“You can kind of exhale and relax a little bit when that extra base hit is turned into an out,’’ said manager John Farrell, a former pitcher.

Farrell said the speed and overall athletic ability of his outfielders is what changes the game.

“They have that range,’’ he said. “In so many ways, a defensive play can be momentum changer or a quick injection of energy. When you have the type of players who make those plays, you can swing the game around.’’

The Sox also are unusual in that all three throw the ball well.

“There is less emphasis on the ability to throw a baseball in the outfield because you’re looking for offense,’’ Farrell said. “But if you’re looking for the ability to throw the ball, our three are impressive.’’

Bradley grew up watching Torii Hunter, who retired after last season. Now he keeps an eye on the other center fielders in the American League East. Along with Kiermaier, Baltimore’s Adam Jones and Toronto’s Kevin Pillar are superior defenders.

The group is so strong that New York’s Jacoby Ellsbury, a Gold Glove winner in 2011, may be the fifth-best in the division.

“They’re all real good,’’ Bradley said. “I’m not putting limits on anything I can do or what we can do as a group. But those guys were great last year.’’

Bradley and Castillo will have to show they can contribute offensively from the bottom third of the order to stay in the lineup.

“I want them out there all season,’’ Porcello said. “As a pitcher, they can fix a lot of mistakes. I saw it last year. When I look at this team, we have a lot of good things going on. The gloves in the outfield are one of them.’’