Boston Red Sox: Xander Bogaerts is next man up as face of the franchise

Now that baseball is finally back, Xander Bogaerts has a chance to build off of his 2019 season and establish himself as the new face of the Boston Red Sox.

When you think about the late 90s, early 2000s Boston Red Sox, you remember Pedro Martinez. When you think about the Red Sox from 2003 to 2016, you remember David Ortiz. When you think about the the Red Sox from 2017 through 2019, you’ll remember Mookie Betts.

So who’s next? Things don’t look great in terms of Boston’s immediate future, with plenty of uncertainty regarding the team’s ability to compete. Someone needs to step up and establish themselves as the next face of the franchise.

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There are multiple players on the roster right now who could take the mantle. Eduardo Rodriguez is coming off a career year at age 27. Rafael Devers broke out last season at just 23. Hell, even Andrew Benintendi has a case if he manages to reach his true potential on a consistent basis.

You can make a compelling argument for all of the above, so it’s very telling that none of them truly hold a candle to Xander Bogaerts candidacy to take that next step.

It almost feels as if it’s overdue for Bogaerts to truly shine and become the cornerstone of the Boston Red Sox. After all, he’s been with the team in the big leagues since 2013 and has gradually improved with each passing season before putting it all together in 2019, posting a .309/.384/.555 line with 33 home runs and 117 RBI.

It’s hard to believe that Bogaerts is turning just 28 in October considering how long he’s been with the Red Sox already. With him being signed through the 2026 season, there is plenty of opportunity for him to improve on an already impressive resume that includes two World Series championships, two All-Star appearances, and three Silver Slugger awards. Not to mention, he was selected to the very first All-MLB First Team last year.

Bogaerts is truly one of the most underrated hitters in the game and has shown that he can hit for both average and power, an ability that has gradually faded away among some stars in the modern day major leagues. He won’t always blow anyone away with his defense, but he’s more than capable at shortstop.

Considering how much Bogaerts has already accomplished in Boston, it’s shocking how little recognition he gets outside of this market. With Betts gone for good after signing a huge extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bogaerts has a chance to take the spotlight as long as he keeps up his production.

Any chance Boston has at being competitive for the next couple of seasons is reliant on Bogaerts carrying some more weight on his shoulders, and there’s no reason to believe that he won’t.

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Years from now, when you think about the Boston Red Sox in the 2020s, odds are you’ll remember Bogaerts above all else.

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