The Red Sox outfield performed out concurrently as anticipated and unexpectedly in 2023.
Like the group total, the outfield was a blended bag. Unlike the roster as a complete nonetheless, which is a huge query mark heading into the offseason, the outfield is ready up for achievement for a number of seasons to return.
After making a daring declaration at spring coaching, Alex Verdugo adopted by way of with a powerful defensive marketing campaign. He led the Red Sox with plus-9 Defensive Runs Saved, and ranked within the ninety fifth MLB percentile in arm power. His plus-1 Outs Above Average tied for sixth amongst Major League proper fielders, an enchancment over minus-1 OAA in two seasons prior.
Unfortunately, the 27-year-old nonetheless struggled to keep up consistency on the plate. There was a slight enhance in energy – he matched his career-high 13 dwelling runs – and his stroll fee jumped to 7.5 p.c, up from 6.5-percent in 2022. However, his batting common and on-base share dropped whereas his strikeout fee climbed to fifteen.5 p.c, a full 2.1 p.c enhance over final season, and he struck out seven extra instances in 10 fewer video games. Though he was nonetheless within the 88th MLB percentile in Okay%, it could actually’t be described as an enchancment.
Verdugo hit .290 with an .817 OPS within the first half of the season (83 video games). That, coupled with a remaining yr of membership management, made him a main commerce candidate on the deadline. Teams have been , and the Red Sox signaled that they have been open to listening to affords, even discussing a swap with the Yankees. Ultimately, they hung onto him and watched as he hit simply .225 with a .635 OPS in his remaining 59 video games.
Though his commerce worth is decrease, Red Sox might find yourself buying and selling Verdugo this offseason; there’s been no indication he’ll get the extension he approached them about final February. He’ll be a free agent subsequent fall, and so they have sufficient club-controlled expertise to go on with out him. Alex Cora additionally benched him a number of instances all through the season for numerous causes, together with for lack of hustle and arriving a number of hours late, which can flip groups away.
Meanwhile, Masataka Yoshida’s “rookie” yr was one in all changes, however he dealt with the bounce from Nippon to the Majors pretty nicely. He hit .289 with a .338 on-base share, amassing 155 hits, 33 doubles, three triples and 15 dwelling runs in 140 video games. He scored 71 instances, drove in 72, and stole eight bases.
Where he struggled was plate self-discipline. Known for strolling (427) greater than he struck out (307) within the NPB, Yoshida solely drew 34 walks to 81 strikeouts. That will not be adequate by his personal requirements, nevertheless it nonetheless put him within the 93rd MLB percentile in Okay%.
Yoshida didn’t precisely excel defensively, although he was generally known as a bat-first participant earlier than the Red Sox signed him. He was price minus-9 OAA, minus-4 DRS, and ranked within the 52nd MLB percentile in arm power. Learning the complexities of the Green Monster will probably be an ongoing course of.
Managing the unfamiliar 162-game workload and frequent journey was a key problem for Yoshida, who wasn’t accustomed to jet lag; your complete NPB shares the identical time zone, with no group farther away than a 3 and a half hour flight. As summer time changed into fall, it grew to become clear he was shedding steam. Over 70 video games between May 1 and July 31, he hit .313/.364/.487. From Aug. 1 on, his numbers dropped considerably, solely slashing .257/.276/.371 over his closing 47 video games.
Adam Duvall, in Boston on a one-year deal, bought off to a scorching begin that got here to a screeching halt within the type of a damaged wrist eight video games in. He returned precisely two months later, and nonetheless managed to play 92 video games and hit 21 dwelling runs. He was a powerful addition to the clubhouse, and although they might not have to signal one other outfielder for subsequent yr, his veteran presence was priceless to a younger division.
In Duvall’s absence, Jarren Duran made probably the most of a foul state of affairs. His turnaround, after struggling by way of two partial, up-and-down seasons between the Majors and Triple-A, was one of the crucial uplifiting tales of the season. He’d debuted in 2021 and hit .219 with a .622 OPS over 91 profession video games between his first two seasons, struggling each offensively and defensively.
Duran didn’t make the Red Sox Opening Day roster, however rapidly rose to the event when referred to as up in mid-April. He hit .295 with a .828 OPS over 102 video games, amassing 98 hits, 34 doubles, two triples, eight dwelling runs, 46 runs, and 40 RBI. He led the roster with 24 stolen bases, led certified Boston batters in common, and his doubles tied Rafael Devers for second on the group (although Devers performed 51 extra video games). According to Stathead, Duran is the ninth participant in franchise historical past to gather as many as 34 doubles and 24 steals in a season however the first to achieve these totals inside 102 video games.
Though his protection was about common – fifty fifth percentile in OAA, 61st percentile in arm power, he and Duvall have been every price minus-5 DRS – Duran compensated with quick footwork; his 29.5 Sprint Speed ranked within the 96th percentile. Even although turf toe and surgical procedure reduce his marketing campaign brief, his was one of the crucial spectacular turnarounds by a Red Sox participant in current historical past.
Rob Refsnyder’s total offensive numbers took a dip in his second Red Sox season, however he continued to slay southpaws. He solely hit .159 with a .466 towards right-handed pitchers, however demolished lefties to the tune of a .308 common and .828 OPS, and he drew extra walks than he struck out towards them. The Red Sox have already bypassed his closing yr of arbitration by extending the versatile defender for $2 million in 2024 with a 2025 membership choice.
Towards the tip of the summer time, the Red Sox referred to as up prime outfield prospects Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela inside per week of each other, and every made an influence. Cora raved about Abreu’s energy within the early days of spring coaching, and the 24-year-old outfielder lived as much as the hype, hitting .316 with a .862 OPS in 28 big-league video games, amassing 24 hits, six doubles, and a pair of dwelling runs.
The Red Sox noticed Rafaela as a Major League-caliber defender lengthy earlier than they referred to as him up on Aug. 28. He’s thought of a future perennial Gold Glove heart fielder. He may play shortstop and second base, and hung out in any respect three positions. He was price plus-2 OAA, the third-best mark on the roster. Abreu, identified extra for his bat, additionally had plus-1 OAA and plus-2 DRS.
Plate self-discipline has been the sticking level all through Rafaela’s minor league profession, however the 23-year-old Curaçao native managed 20 hits, six doubles, and two dwelling runs in his 28 video games. He and Abreu stole three bases, and have been the primary two Red Sox rookies to gather 5 or extra doubles of their first 18 profession video games since Sam Travis in 2017.
The Red Sox enter the offseason with an outfield filled with promising younger expertise, most of whom are below membership management for a few years to return. Meaning they will dedicate this offseason to bringing in some beginning pitching.
Source: www.bostonherald.com