Boston Red Sox: Michael Chavis proving to be one dynamic rookie

Boston Red Sox young slugger Michael Chavis continues to flex his power in the major leagues launching his first career grand slam Monday night.

The Boston Red Sox season has been an up-and-down one for sure, but one of the bright spots has been the rookie power off the bat of one Michael Chavis.

Not since the days of Mo Vaughn and Phil Plantier (remember him?) has the team seen a player come up to the major leagues and display this much power so quickly.

Sure, both Rafael Devers and Andrew Benintendi made similar impacts, but both of those players came up mid-to-late season in previous years and didn’t flash the type of monster homers Chavis has been flexing since he was brought up.

That power was on display again Monday night in the team’s 10-8 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park.  With the bases loaded and a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the young source of power launched his first career grand slam into the Monster Seats of Fenway Park.

It was a blast that certainly did damage as it put the team up 5-0.  It was also another situation where Michael Chavis showed patience at the plate.  Working the court to 3-2, Chavis battled Blue Jays starter Trent Thornton and came out on the winning side of the one-on-one battle.

What was special about the at-bat was Chavis handling of the high fastball, which has been a pitch he has struggled with in his young major league career.

"“I know that’s something that people have been attacking me with, and in that situation, it’s probably the safest pitch to throw,” Chavis said following the game, via MLB.com.  “If it means fouling it off or trying to get to another one or just taking it for a ball, it’s definitely something that I’ve been working on.  Doing that to earn the next pitch, that’s something I’ve kind of been writing in my book as well, it’s like, ‘Earn a pitch to hit’, and I think that’s what I did, so it’s very satisfying, for sure.”"

It’s just the beginning

What’s also satisfying is his 16 homers so far this season.  It’s a mark that certainly has him in the conversation for AL Rookie of the Year, but also a showmanship of power that he is showing can be sustained.

In mentioning a player like Phil Plantier above, Michael Chavis could go down a similar path if he just goes to the plate looking to launch homeruns.  But what he is showing during his rookie season is his desire to learn from each at-bat and taking what he is given.

While the 421-foot homer was the energy source of the night, Chavis himself was more excited about drawing two walks as it is about discipline at the plate and staying patient that will make him a more dangerous hitter at the plate and not just because of his power.

In putting it all together at the plate, along with his versatility on the field, the Boston Red Sox have themselves a grand slam of a player who is only getting better through his struggles.