Xander Bogaerts ready to step up as clubhouse leader
In less than a decade, Xander Bogaerts has gone from up-and-coming prospect to elder statesman in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse.
“It’s kind of crazy to think how time flies that quickly,” Bogaerts told reporters in a Zoom call from spring training on Monday. “I was young, man. I just wanted to get to the big leagues, and make it from my little tiny Aruba.
“Now I’m eight years in the big leagues and I’ve accomplished some stuff so far at a young age,” he said. “That fuels me to to continue to do it, to continue to be better and set an example.”
Sill just 28, Bogaerts is already the longest-tenured member of the Red Sox, who signed him as an amateur free agent in 2009. He broke in to the majors late in the 2013 season and the time the team reached the World Series, he had played his way into the starting lineup.
“Now he’s the older one,” manager Alex Cora said on the first full day of team workouts. “I saw him today, walking around talking to players, growing into the leader that in envisioned a few years ago. It’s going to be fun to work with him.”
Dustin Pedroia had been Boston’s senior statesman before he retired this winter, unable to return from the knee injury that limited him to nine total games over the past three season. He led like he played, Bogaerts said: Loudly, in your face, and doing whatever he could to win.
“He was just so short, but had the biggest mouth that could have walked into that clubhouse door. I think that fueled a lot of guys,” Bogaerts said. “He pushed a lot of guys, to get the best out of them. And he was such a great player for the team and the organization. He was true class, man.”
The 2008 AL MVP addressed his former teammates by video on Monday during the first day of fullsquad workouts, as did Cora and chairman Tom Werner. (The workouts were actually broken in two to allow for social distancing; the team meeting was held outdoors.)
“We talked about a few things: expectations, trust, family environment. It was a good one,” Cora said. “To have the whole crew here, it’s fun to see. It was a day we were waiting for, and now we can take off.”
Bogaerts, who is more soft-spoken than Pedroia, isn’t likely to try to duplicate his longtime double play partner’s style. Instead, he will try to give his younger teammates the benefit of his experience, letting them know what is expected by the Red Sox and the city of Boston.
“I don’t have that big mouth like Dustin had. I like to push people, though,” Bogaerts said. “This game is hard, especially if you’re going to play in Boston. It’s a pretty strong market that requires a lot of winning.
“Last year was a pretty rough year for us in. … I’m going to let guys know that the city expects winning at a high clip.”
Bogaerts saw that in 2013, when he batted .296 with three doubles and a triple and helped the Red Sox win the World Series. Since then, he has made the AllStar team twice, including 2019, when he finished fifth in the AL MVP voting.
In the pandemic-shortened season last year, he batted .300 with 11 homers, 28 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 56 games.
“He’s just a shortstop that hits .300, hits 30 and drives in 100,” Cora said. “It’s not only what you do at shortstop, it’s how you act in the clubhouse, what you do for the community, how people see you in Boston. There’s no red flags with him.
“People know how I feel about Carlos (Correa), and Javy (Baez) and Francisco (Lindor),” Cora said. “But I’m happy that Xander Bogaerts is my shortstop. I’m more than happy.”
And he should have him for a while.
Bogaerts signed a sixyear, $120 million contract extension in 2019 that could keep him in Boston through 2025. But it also has an optout after next season, and the market for star shortstops was shaken up this offseason when San Diego signed Fernando Tatis Jr. to a 14-year deal for $340 million.
“Obviously, he got a boatload of money. Good for him; good for his family,” Bogaerts said. “It’s something good for the shortstop class that’s going to come up this year. Hopefully all of them get paid the way they want to.”
TOP PERFORMANCES
Catie Donadio, Morgan: The senior guard scored her 1,000th career point with 16 points against North Branford. She followed that up with 28 points in a 56-40 win over Valley Regional.
Kenzie Sirowich, Seymour: In her comeback game after missing two seasons due to injury, the junior scored 28 points with 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 7 steals in a 57-52 NVL victory over St. Paul.
Caitlyn Velez, Sheehan: The senior tallied her first career triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists during a 60-49 win over Law.
Maya Henry, Warde: Henry scored a game-high 23 points, including the last nine points over the final 1:40 of the game as Warde pulled away from Greenwich 50-39.
Marissa Nudd, Bacon Academy: As part of a 69-41 win over Waterford, Nudd put up a doubledouble with 24 points and 16 rebounds.
Tristin Oberg, Windsor
Locks: Oberg had a huge night with 17 points and 25 rebounds during a 54-37 victory against Granby Memorial.
Milena Walker, Waterford: What a week! Walker had 27 points and 17 rebounds against Stonington, then followed that up with 20 points and 15 rebounds against Bacon Academy.
Natalie Lieto, Masuk: In her first varsity game, the freshman had 16 points and 13 rebounds along with six assists and three steals in a win over Immaculate.
Ashley Hennessy, Nonnewaug: The senior scored 24 of her 25 points in the second half, courtesy of six 3-pointers during a 47-42 win against Shepaug.
Gabriel Matias, Innovation: Matias had a double-double with 28 points and 11 rebounds to go along with six steals in a 63-39 victory over University.
Cassi Barbato, Trumbull: Consistency is important. Barbato had 13 points and three 3-pointers in both of Trumbull’s wins last week against New Canaan and St. Joseph.
Ciara Collins, Bristol Eastern: Collins had a terrific week with 25 points in a 77-33 win against Plainville and 23 of her team’s 45 points in a loss to Southington.
Jenissa Varela, NFA:
Varela had a game-high 23 points for the No. 2 Wildcats as part of a 52-33 win over St. Bernard.
Sophia Coppola, Hand:
Coppola put in 17 points as Hand stayed unbeaten with a 63-30 SCC win over East Haven.
Kaysie Dupuis, Parish Hill: Dupuis put in 33 points as Parish Hill got the 73-47 win over Capital Prep.
Braeden LeBeau, North Branford: Despite losing to Morgan, LeBeau had quite a night with 18 points, 18 rebounds and seven blocks.
GAMES TO WATCH
Kolbe Cathedral at No. 1 Notre Dame-Fairfield, Tuesday, 6 p.m.: Likely the toughest test the No. 1 Lancers will face in the regular season comes in the form of a Kolbe team featuring Notre Dame transfer Ciara Brown.
West Haven at Sacred Heart Academy, Wednesday, 6 p.m.: The unbeaten
Westies travel to face a Sharks team coming off their first loss. West Haven sophomore Kassidy Carrano began the season with back-to-back games with double-doubles.
Thomaston at Nonnewaug, Wednesday, 3 p.m.: Two of the top guards in the Berkshire League square off in Ashley Hennessey of Nonnewaug and Emma Kahn of Thomaston. Both teams enter the week unbeaten.
Hand at Mercy, Wednesday, 6 p.m.: Both SCC rivals are out to unbeaten starts and neither has allowed an opponent to reach 40 points.
Trumbull at Staples, Thursday, 5 p.m.: Two of the top contenders in the FCIAC come together with Cassi Barbato and the Eagles hoping to stay hot against Marley Lopez-Paul and the Wreckers.
Windsor at Conard, Friday, 7 p.m.: Player of the year contender Azaiyah Felder (headed to Ohio) and Conard get a big test with unbeaten Windsor coming to town. No team has finished within 10 points of Windsor.