It appears as if writers, fans and pundits can't make up their mind on Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. He was said to have looked "lost" after starting the 2015 MLB season 1-for-7, but after a 3-for-4 night against the Phillies on Thursday, his extra offseason work is "paying off at the plate."
Rumors are going to swirl regarding Bogaerts' potential production in 2015 because he's expected to have a breakout year. However, judging by his 2014 struggles, it's no guarantee he bursts onto the scene just yet. Following a successful 2013 postseason en route to a World Series victory, Bogaerts followed that up in 2014 batting just .240/.297/.362 with 60 runs scored, 12 home runs, 46 RBIs and 138 strikeouts in 144 games.
After Bogaerts' first two games against the Phillies, here's what Alex Speier of The Boston Globe wrote:
"Bogaerts did drill an RBI single down the left field line on a Ken Giles slider, but he looked, in the words of an American League scout at the game, 'lost ... like he's caught in between' in his other at-bats. That notion proved most evident in a five-pitch fifth-inning at-bat where Aaron Harang struck him out with nothing but fastballs and then a ninth-inning, three-fastballs-and-goodbye strikeout against Jonathan Papelbon to end the game."
But wait. Forget about the 1-for-7 with two strikeouts because he went 3-for-4 with a run scored, three RBIs and a walk, and even reached on an error on Thursday night.
"Bogaerts spent the offseason working on strength and quickness and hit .271 in the spring," writes Julian Benbow of The Boston Globe. "His first multi-hit game of the season was confirmation that he was feeling like himself, he said.
"Bogaerts was particular at the plate, seeing 23 pitches and never once swinging and missing at a strike. He also used as much of the field as possible, with two hits going to right and another bouncing up the middle."
It's nothing against The Boston Globe. It's merely the current circumstance surrounding Bogaerts. Spectators have seen his highs and lows in such a short time span and nobody knows what to expect. Boston has bolstered their offense with the additions of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval as well as the emergence of Mookie Betts. With that being the case, Bogaerts should succeed, right?
Not quite. Hitting coach Chili Davis said the youngster still looked "jumpy" in his early-season at-bats and even Bogaerts admitted to having some issues with timing, especially at the beginning of the season.
"He's still working on things we were addressing in spring training," manager John Farrell added. "We've got to stay patient and continue to give that opportunity to take hold in game."
So all in all, it's up to Bogaerts and how he can adjust to improve his mechanics as a hitter. Boston's offseason additions won't be able to help him out until he can find himself in a rhythm and begin contributing more offensively.
The upcoming weekend series against the New York Yankees, during which he'll face scheduled starters Nathan Eovaldi, Adam Warren and probably Masahiro Tanaka, could provide more insight in terms of his progression at the plate.
