Boston Red Sox: 5 players who will spark excitement in 2021

No 2: Alex Verdugo

Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo didn’t make fans forget Mookie Betts in 2020, but he did provide a few moments both offensively and defensively that served reminiscent of the prized outfielder.

With a .308 average, along with 6 homers and 15 RBI, Verdugo did serve up some excitement in an otherwise forgettable shortened 60-game season.

It was enough to have fans drooling for more in 2021 when he plays a full season in a Red Sox uniform.

Alex Verdugo was the Boston Red Sox best player in 2020

Coming over in the blockbuster deal that sent Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Verdugo came with the talent, but there were questions surrounding his character off the field.  He put those questions to rest and essentially was the best player on the team in 2020 according to Alex Cora, who was re-hired as manager following the season.

"“Alex is a good player,” Cora said, as transcribed by Masslive.com.  “I saw him with the Dodgers, the previous year, a guy that brings a lot of energy to the equation on a daily basis.  He can hit lefties, he can hit righties.  I think he settled in the lineup.  Defensively, he did an outstanding job for the team.  For everything that is going on as far as like no fans and protocols and how quote-on-quote uncomfortable it was for a team that didn’t play well, I do believe he was the best player on the team, the MVP.”"

It is hard to disagree with Cora as Verdugo was one of the few players who consistently played at a high intensity.

He may never reach the heights of Betts, but it will be both fun and interesting to see how he ascends in 2021, especially under a manager like Cora.