Boston’s Xander Bogaerts is scheduled to start at shortstop on Opening Day for the eighth straight year, the first time that’s happened in 100 years. Everett Scott set that particular club record for shortstops from 1914-21. Tommy Gilligan/Associated Press
It was an embarrassment of infield riches enjoyed by Alex Cora while selecting his Puerto Rico team for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Three of the top young shortstops in the game – Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and Javier Baez – were among those in his player pool as the general manager. Kiké Hernandez and veteran utility man Mike Aviles provided additional depth, and the club eventually captured a silver medal.
Cora insisted Monday there was one player at the position he’d prefer to all of them.
Xander Bogaerts enters his eighth full season in the big leagues smack in the middle of his physical prime, and his leadership should be a key piece if Boston holds legitimate hopes of returning to the postseason for the first time since 2018.
“I know a lot of people here know how I feel about Carlos and Javy and Francisco – I’m happy Xander Bogaerts is my shortstop,” Cora said. “I’m more than happy.”
Bogaerts was called up for the first time in August 2013 and helped the Red Sox capture the first of two championships in his career. He started the following Opening Day and is poised to do so for the eighth straight time. It’s been a full century since Everett Scott set that particular club record for shortstops from 1914-21.
“I know when I came here I was a young kid – 2013 in the big leagues,” Bogaerts said. “A lot of veteran guys were on the team. They were like, ‘Hey, this is going to come by quick and it’s going to go quick. Enjoy every moment that you get of it.’
“I’m already eight years into the big leagues – it’s kind of crazy how time flies that quick.”
The 28-year-old has steadily evolved into a clubhouse leader, and that has something to do with how Boston has backed him off the field. The six-year, $120-million extension he finalized early in the 2019 season gave Bogaerts both the security and the status to raise his voice a bit. He was the one taking most of the tough questions while the Red Sox followed up their latest World Series win with a pair of disappointing seasons.
“When you sign contracts like that – we said it in (Oakland) in ‘19 – it comes with other expectations,” Cora said. “It’s not only what you do at shortstop. It’s how you act in the clubhouse, what you do in the community, how people see you in Boston.
“There are no red flags with him. I’ve been saying it all along.”
Bogaerts flashed early power in the minor leagues and has fully developed as a hitter over the last three seasons. He ranks first among all shortstops from 2015-20 in hits, doubles, RBI and runs scored. Bogaerts has also retained his ability to hit for average, batting .298 with a .360 on-base percentage.
What Bogaerts wants more than anything is a return to relevancy. Last year’s 24-36 nightmare and basement finish in the American League East clearly wore on him. He’s been encouraged by some of the offseason moves made by the Boston front office, especially on a pitching staff that was crushed to the tune of a 5.58 ERA.
“This game is hard, especially if you’re going to play in Boston,” Bogaerts said. “This is a pretty strong market that requires a lot of winning. We know last year was a pretty rough year for us.”
Cora has spoken repeatedly about the need for the Red Sox to be more athletic and sharper on defense. That includes improvement in the field from Bogaerts – FanGraphs rates him at minus-55 in terms of defensive runs saved since the start of the 2016 season. He’s generally sure-handed when the ball is hit to him but isn’t viewed as having elite range at the position.
“Whatever he touches, he turns into outs,” Cora said. “As far as range factor and all that, I think positioning comes into play, too. Not everybody uses the same information as far as positioning.”
How the rest of baseball sees Bogaerts as a player could be clear after the 2022 season. An opt-out clause in his contract would allow Bogaerts to test the market as a 30-year-old, and Fernando Tatis Jr. just reset the shortstop salary scale thanks to his $340 million deal with the Padres. Correa, Lindor, Baez, Corey Seager and Trevor Story are all among potential free agents after 2021 and could add further leverage for Bogaerts to make future demands.
“I remember when I signed – it was such a long time before I was going to be a free agent again,” Bogaerts said. “Now it’s a topic that’s bouncing around – the opt-out and stuff like that.
“Time goes by quick.”
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