5 things we learned about the Red Sox in the first week of spring training

The baseball season is underway.

The Red Sox is about to close its first full week of spring training games, going 3-3 in its first six games. In his last game, Michael Chavis sent the Red Sox home with a win by hitting a home run in the 6-5 win over Rays on Friday.

Here are five things we learned about the Red Sox in the first week of spring training.

Enrique Hernandez or Alex Verdugo will be the starting hitter.

The Red Sox will have several options for its first hitter in 2021. Its biggest off-season acquisition, Enrique “Kiké” Hernandez, ranked first in four of the team’s first six spring training games.

Coach Alex Cora has signaled that outfielder Alex Verdugo, who was the team’s hitter for much of last season, can maintain his position again this season.

“In my opinion, Alex will lead or come in second (during the regular season),” said Cora.

In his first game with Hernandez and Verdugo in the squad, Hernandez took the first position, while Verdugo took second. Hernandez bet 1 to 1 with a walk. Verdugo did a double and later scored on his debut in spring training.

JD Martinez will hit midway through the lineup.

With the first two places in the lineup likely going to Hernandez and Verdugo, the designated hitter will be in the middle of the lineup. The Red Sox briefly had JD Martinez hit second in their lineup in 2020, but Cora will have him in the middle of the lineup for next season.

“The way we want to play, we want those good base runners in front of him,” said Cora. “When he hits the ball, they score first. Hitting JD in second place was a decision the organization made last year, but for me, it’s like, ‘JD arrives at the base with a hike, it will take a while for him to score.’ Nothing against him. He is not being paid to steal bases or score from the start. “

Martinez reached third place in all four games he has played so far in spring training. Third baseman Rafael Devers achieved cleanliness in all his spring training appearances. That may change when Xander Bogaerts returns.

Some players are dealing with injuries to begin spring training.

Speaking of Bogaerts, he is one of the few notable players who is missing out on the first games of spring training due to an injury. Red Sox’s full-time shortstop was closed for a few days after suffering shoulder pain from a throwing program in Aruba.

The Red Sox don’t expect Bogaerts to be gone for long, however. Cora said Bogaerts played Thursday and would play again on Friday, saying that Bogaerts “feels good”.

“Another thing about Xander, when he starts talking about football, it is a good sign for him too, he is getting stuck”, joked Cora.

One of the main perspectives of the Red Sox is also out. First baseman Triston Casas traveled to Boston this week to address a medical issue unrelated to baseball. Casas returned to the team at Fort Myers on Thursday.

“They found something that we need to take care of medically,” Cora told reporters on Thursday. “Actually, it’s not related to baseball. It is really personal. So, I’ll leave it at that. We hope everything is fine. “

Pitch prospect Bryan Mata did an MRI scan on Thursday to detect pain in his right triceps. No updates have been provided on your status. Outfielder Franchy Cordero, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, is now at the camp and is doing a physical entrance exam, Cora told reporters on Friday.

Of course, Chris Sale remains indefinitely after Tommy John’s surgery last spring.

Some perspectives have increased.

While two of the Red Sox’s best contenders are dealing with injuries, some others are preparing to move up.

Outer defender Jarren Duran could be the star of the spring training so far for the Red Sox. Duran, who is the 5th potential candidate in the Red Sox system according to Baseball America, is 5-to-11 on the base with two home runs.

Jarren Duran is in 🔥

THE #RedSox outfield prospect is 2-to-2 today with its second double and home of spring training. It is now 5 to 10. pic.twitter.com/JfJhPyjcwA

– MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 4, 2021

First baseman Bobby Dalbec also went up. He is 4-to-10 from the board in spring training with three home runs. Although he played a little with the Red Sox in 2020, he still qualifies as a potential customer, ranked 4th in the Sox system by Baseball America.

Shortstop Jeter Downs, which is the N0. 2 prospects in the Red Sox system according to Baseball America, bet 2 on 2 and hit a home run on their spring training debut.

“He’s a good player,” said Cora of Downs. “Everyone knows him. We like him very much. Slow heartbeat, it seems. Even during practice, she gave him a good swing there, going to the opposite field and sat on a ball breaking in the middle. He is part of the future. We know that. Very happy that he introduced himself. We saw many positive aspects today. We put some good ones on the stick. “

Nick Yorke, whom the Red Sox chose in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft, also had an impressive debut. The 18-year-old hit a single ball on the opposite side of the field and drew in his debut against Braves on Monday.

The external field of the Red Sox will look different.

The biggest news involving the Red Sox this week came from a change they did not make. After eight seasons in Boston, Jackie Bradley Jr. is leaving the Red Sox, signing a two-year, $ 24 million contract with the Brewers on Thursday morning.

Bradley Jr.’s departure from Boston will leave the Red Sox with a different-looking outfield after they switched Andrew Benintendi to the Royals in February. Verdugo remains in Boston and, with Bradley Jr. out of the picture, he can go to the central field after spending all season last on the right field. Verdugo played at the center in his spring training debut on Friday.

In the outer corners, it is speculated that Hunter Renfroe will be the team’s rightful defender in most games, while Cordero will start on the left. Renfroe, who signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox this off-season, has played well in all his spring training so far.