Boston Red Sox: Xander Bogaerts is MLB’s most ‘underrated’ superstar
Once a young prospect glimmering at the leadership of Boston Red Sox legends such as David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts is not marking his place in team history as one of the best at the position.
No, he is not flashy or doesn’t have the presence Big Papi had in the city of Boston but Bogarts has silently emerged as a leader of the team, both offensively and in the clubhouse. Oh, and his defense is not too shabby either.
One of five All-Stars representing Red Sox Nation at the MLB All-Star Game, Bogaerts went 2-for-3 with an RBI outshining the shortstops that get all the attention like Fernando Tatis Jr, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and Colorado Rookies shortstop Trevor Story, who wishes he got more of a chance to watch the special talent that is Xander Bogarts.
"“The AL/NL kind of keeps us apart, but man, he’s so underrated it’s unbelievable,” Story said prior to All-Star festivities on Monday, via MassLive.com. “He’s such a good player on both sides of the ball. I appreciate just the way he goes out there every day and posts every day. It feels like he’s getting an extra-base hit every day. He’s just a really productive player. And he’s good for the game.”More from Chowder and Champions3 Patriots on the Bubble Who Have Clinched Their 53-Man Roster Spots3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster DeadlineMLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season"
Xander Bogarts leading the Boston Red Sox to the promise land
He’s been very good and vital to the success of the 2021 Boston Red Sox. With a .321 batting average entering the second half of the season, Bogaerts has mostly showed off his power launching 15 homers and driving in 51 runs this season.
Those are All-Star numbers certainly, but what makes him an All-Star for Red Sox fans is that quiet leadership, loyalty to the team and that clutch factor.
Speaking of loyalty, the fact Bogaerts signed a team-friendly extension on his last contract just shows the type of dedication he has as a star in the Red Sox organization.
With an agent like Scott Boras, who typically gets the bigger contracts for his clients, it only details further the commitment of a player who grow up in the Boston Red Sox culture and a player who is now inspiring up-and-coming players like Rafael Devers and Alex Verdugo.
To sum it all up, Bogaerts has certainly arrived as a star in the league. As Story said, definitely “underrated,” but it appears now is his time, especially in leading a team that wasn’t supposed to compete to one of the best records in baseball at the All-Star break.
"“What Xander Bogaerts is to the Boston Red Sox and who he is in Major League Baseball is a lot clearer now than it was when he signed his last contract,” Scott Boras told MassLive in early July. “The point of it is, it’s really something that has given the league, and everyone involved the opportunity to know who he is, what he can do, what he’s capable of and what he means to a franchise. It has proved to be something of value and merit to the team and for him, as well.”"
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With two World Series championships under his belt, and perhaps on the verge of another, the price tag for Xander Bogaerts has shot up around the league and the Red Sox will have to appreciate that value if they want to keep him in Boston. An underrated superstar showcasing that he is very much worth the hype he entered the league with.