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Red Sox: Report Card at the All-Star Break

By Blake Yagman

Jul 3, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Brock Holt (12), center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25), and right fielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 3, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Brock Holt (12), center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25), and right fielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Offense: Grade A+

The Red Sox offense is one of the very best in baseball. As a team, the Boston Red Sox lead all of Major League Baseball with a .292 batting average; the next closest is held by the Miami Marlins at .274. The Sox are also first in the majors in runs (476), hits (876), doubles (213), RBI (453), OBP (.360), Slugging % (.476), and OBP (.836).

Jun 29, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) smiles while on deck during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 29, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) smiles while on deck during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

David Ortiz continues to transcend time. Big Papi, at age 40, is among the league leaders in home runs (20), batting average (.337), and RBI (69). In his final season donning a Red Sox uniform, Ortiz’ resurgence awakens a rich, late-2000’s nostalgia of when David Ortiz was truly at his very best. Ortiz will be starting at Designated Hitter for the American League in San Diego next week.

Aside from David Ortiz, the Red Sox have developed a honey-pot of homegrown wealth often referred to now as “the B’s.” American League All-Star starters Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Mookie Betts are the future of the Boston Red Sox; all three players are age 26 or younger.

This season, Xander Bogaerts, who had already won the Silver Slugger at the shortstop position last year (top offensive shortstop), has developed significant pull-power this season. Bogaerts is driving the ball further to deep-left field, which will bode well in a career at Fenway Park.

Jackie Bradley Jr. is perhaps the most surprising out of all three of these emerging stars. Bradley has never been an offensive power at any level with the Red Sox; in fact, the team considered Bradley, who is a Gold Glove caliber center fielder, an offensive sacrifice for improved defense. Bradley, who began the season with a hitting streak over 30 games, has proven the Red Sox terribly mistaken; his 14 homers this season are more than he has hit at any level since joining the Sox organization in 2011.

Jun 18, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) talks to a couple of fans prior to a game against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) talks to a couple of fans prior to a game against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Second base convert Mookie Betts had said as recently as two years ago at Triple-AAA that he had never seen himself as a Major Leaguer. Not only is Mookie a Major Leaguer, he is one of the premiere rising stars in all of baseball. Betts, no bigger than your average Dustin Pedroia, is a genuine five tool player; he hits for average (.299) and power (18 HR), with an elite glove and arm in right field, and a propensity to steal bags on the basepaths (13 SB). Mookie Betts is the real deal.

The corner infield anchors of Travis Shaw and Hanley Ramirez have been serviceable but not unbearable. Both players have high on-base percentages and play well defensively; but neither have quite put up the power numbers as anticipated. Shaw was named the team’s starting third baseman out of Spring Training, and has played well at the hot corner in his first full MLB season. Hanley Ramirez is just beginning to find his power, pushing his Slugging % to .436 recently. Ramirez has hit only 8 HR thus far this season after hitting 10 last April alone.

Elsewhere, Sandy Leon has unexpectedly taken over at catcher. Leon has hit tremendously well through limited at-bats thus far; he continues to play his trademark elite defense. Brock Holt has also returned and provided a spark to the team after spending nearly two months on the disabled list due to a concussion in early May.

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