What was once considered a fierce competition for the starting center field job in Boston looks to becoming less of a battle. One man has emerged as perhaps the top option and manager John Farrell may not have to look any further.
That man is Mookie Betts.
The 22-year-old has picked up right where he left off from last season and is tearing it up with the Red Sox this spring. Betts was called up for 52 games in 2014 as a 21-year-old and batted .291/.388/.444 with 34 runs scored, five home runs, 18 RBIs and seven stolen bases, on top of displaying his defensive versatility. In nine games this spring, the prospect is slashing .448/.448/.759 with six runs scored, five doubles, two triples and one RBI.
"He's had a good day seemingly every time he walks on the field," Farrell told Ian Browne of MLB.com. "It looks like he's able to make some adjustments inside a given at-bat. I'm sure word has spread quick that he has the ability to drive the baseball."
His defense has also been stellar after making the transition to the outfield just last year. Before 2014, Betts logged nearly all of his minor league games at second base before playing 45 games in center field and has since made that transition at the major league level because Dustin Pedroia will occupy Betts' primary position for years to come. It hasn't seemed have to faze the youngster.
Betts' top competition for the Opening Day job was supposed to be Cuban defector Rusney Castillo, but the 27-year-old suffered a strained oblique during the onset of spring training and didn't make his debut until Wednesday. He played a few innings in both the team's Triple-A and Double-A games and went 0-for-2.
"I felt very good today," Castillo told the Boston Herald. "I was able to get out on the field and do everything I needed to. I didn't feel any pain in my oblique area. Overall it went very well. It was good to get back on the field."
However, he's already way behind because of Betts' stellar production. The good news is that he said he "wouldn't feel bad" if the team opted to start him in the minors this upcoming season and "would go with whatever it is and continue to get ready."
He may not have much of a choice.
NOTES: Jackie Bradley Jr. is also in the discussion for the center field job, but Betts' performance has largely overshadowed Bradley's improving offensive production (.296/.387/.370 with five runs scored, two doubles and an RBI in 10 games). The 24-year-old has a .196 average in 164 games with the Red Sox, but his excellent defensive skills have made him a commodity.
It's been rumored other teams have been discussing what the Red Sox might want in a trade for Bradley because of their current outfield situation.