No club was more aggressive in the Northeast on Thursday than Boston, which used its final three picks of the first day on intriguing talents in their home region. In Peter Hissey, Ryan Westmoreland and Ryan Lavarnway, Boston landed the three highest-ranked position players in the Northeast (after first-rounder Anthony Hewitt), but none of them figures to be an easy sign.

The Sox have been aggressive signing Northeast high schoolers regarded as tough signs after the early rounds before; two years ago they grabbed New Jersey prep outfielder Ryan Kalish in the ninth round and bought him out of a commitment to Virginia with a $600,000 bonus. There are a lot of parallels between Kalish and Boston’s fourth-rounder this year, Pennsylvania prep outfielder Peter Hissey. Like Kalish, Hissey is a Virginia signee who is likely to command an above-slot bonus to keep him out of school. They’re even similar players: above-average runners with solid line-drive strokes and untapped average raw power, though one scout from another organization said he believes Hissey has more power potential and was a more interesting prospect than Kalish.

Rhode Island prep outfielder Westmoreland also garnered a few comparisons to Kalish, although fellow Ocean State native Rocco Baldelli was a more frequent comp. Westmoreland is a Vanderbilt signee who will command at least a seven-figure bonus to keep him away from Nashville, and the Red Sox were rumored to be interested in him as early as the supplemental first or second round. They were able to get him later, but they’ll have to open their substantial wallet to sign him.

Yale catcher Lavarnway could have gone as high as the fourth round if he hadn’t broken his wrist on a play at home plate late in the spring. He’s a hitting machine with power and a big league approach who led the nation in batting as a sophomore (.467). He has a big, physical frame and should have enough mobility and power to man a corner outfield spot if he can’t stay behind the plate. That move is not a foregone conclusion, however; he didn’t start catching until college and shows decent hands and arm strength, but he needs to improve his mobility and transfer. It’s never easy to buy a junior out of an Ivy League school, and it will be even harder with Lavarnway, who could return for his senior year and boost his stock significantly with a healthy spring. But if Lavarnway has a strong, healthy summer in the Cape Cod League, the Red Sox could shell out for him prior to the Aug. 15 signing deadline.

Don’t be surprised if Boston makes it four straight from the Northeast when the draft resumes Friday; St. John’s lefthander Scott Barnes is still on the board and would be a terrific value at the end of the seventh round.