Boston Red Sox: Alex Verdugo a sturdy hand in shaky times
The 2022 season is all but over for the Boston Red Sox. A recent sweep by the Tampa Bay Rays cemented that, taking away all the good vibes of a five-game winning streak prior.
It’s been a season where bright spots have been hard to find. A torrid month of June provided plenty of hope but it seems like seasons ago when the joy and jubilation danced through Red Sox Nation.
The Red Sox have failed to figure out the A.L. East, going a combined 18-39 heading into the season’s final weeks. A 49-32 record against everyone else kept the Red Sox respectable but injuries and inconsistencies doomed this team.
One player who has been a steady hand, and only rising in stature, is outfielder Alex Verdugo.
Boston Red Sox: Replacing a legend
One of the key acquisitions from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade, Verdugo has been solid since his arrival. In his third season with the Red Sox, he is on track for his best season in the pros yet.
Stat wise, in the power department, Verdugo may never reach the level of production that Betts provided (and is still providing in Dodger blue). The runs and walks departments, while respectable for Verdugo, are also lower than what Betts provides.
However, the Red Sox outfielder is reliable and has similar stats in other areas at the plate. Verdugo has been consistent and is durable. He also provides intangibles like leadership and, from the outside, appears to embrace that role in the dugout and the clubhouse.
Related Story. Boston Red Sox need to capitalize on recent infusion of excitement. light
Both very important as this team will likely lean towards younger players beyond 2022. Meaning he, along with (fingers crossed) Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts, will be who those younger players look to for guidance in the future.
Verdugo leads Boston in games played in 2022, with 131. He’s hitting .284 with 34 doubles, 9 home runs, 63 RBI, and his 145 hits are second on the team. The best part is that Verdugo has been trending upward all season long.
Shining for Boston Red Sox in ’22
A slow start for Verdugo had some worried this would be a down year. Instead, he’s turned it around to one of his best.
The first two months saw Verdugo go 40-176 (.227) at the plate, part of a league-wide problem where offensive numbers were down.
Want your voice heard? Join the Chowder And Champions team!
Things actually began to turn around for Verdugo at the end of the second month, where he closed out May hitting picking up eight hits in 27 at-bats. From there, it’s been mostly gravy.
Verdugo is 105-334 (.314) since June 1 and those numbers have been even better in August and the first week of September.
In August, Verdugo hit .330, with 12 multi-hit games. Four of these saw him pick up three hits and during the month, he scored 17 runs.
Despite going hitless in Wednesday’s loss to Tampa Bay, Verdugo is hitting .310 in seven September games. Four of these games have been of the multi-hit variety and his OPS is .911, upping his season average to .738 (up from .598 on May 31).
Verdugo has also been a steady presence in an often mix-and-match outfield.
Next. Boston Red Sox: The exit of two legends, 100 years apart. dark
Only 26 years old, Verdugo should be considered a long-term asset and a cornerstone for this team going forward. Chances are 30 home run seasons won’t be a normal occurrence but if Verdugo can up that 15-20 each season, while hitting .285 or higher while drawing more walks, he will build a solid career. A career that will hopefully see him in a Boston Red Sox uniform for years to come.