Springing forward: Team tops Huskies
Here we go.
On Friday, the Red Sox played ball for the first time in 2023, and no matter how high or low you are on this year’s team, there’s no denying, it’s just good to have baseball back.
Including the opening game against Northeastern University, a 5-3 win, this year’s Sox Spring totals 34 exhibition games in 33 days. The Sox play 32 Grapefruit League games and the first exhibition game against Puerto Rico since 2017. Friday kicked off a stretch of 21 games in 20 days.
Due to the World Baseball Classic, the Red Sox fielded a more serious lineup than they usually do in the annual college game. Alex Cora said earlier this week that they want to make sure players leaving camp for the WBC get plenty of at-bats. The WBC isn’t implementing MLB’s new rules, so this time is crucial for adjustment.
The pitching
Oddanier Mosqueda became the first pitcher to take the mound for the Red Sox, opening up the first inning with a strike, before giving up a leadoff single to Northeastern’s Spenser Smith.
Ultimately, he ended up facing the minimum in the first. After Masataka Yoshida caught his first major-league fly ball, the Red Sox cut the runner down at second to end the top of the first.
Durbin Feltman got the ball for the second. There was a lot of buzz about him a few years ago, potential bullpen depth option. In the fourth inning, Chase Shugart became the first Red Sox pitcher to allow a run and stolen base in 2023.
Rio Gomez entered the game in the top of the sixth and pitched a scoreless frame effortlessly. He’s the son of revered sports journalist Pedro Gomez, who passed away suddenly in February 2021.
“Good to see him out there,” Cora told reporters after the game, “Me and his dad, we had a great relationship. I mean, the best, the best out there. There was no bad days for Pedro.”
The lineup
Duran CF, Devers 3B, Hernández SS, Yoshida LF, Verdugo RF, Alfaro DH, Casas 1B, Valdez 2B, Scott C
Jarren Duran led off in the inaugural spring game and smacked a double near the left-field corner of Fenway South’s Green Monster replica.
Rafael Devers followed suit with a double of his own, scoring Duran to make it 1-0 early.
Kiké Hernández became the first Red Sox player to draw a walk, an area of need that shaped this offseason’s roster construction. Hernández, who will be the Red Sox’ everyday shortstop while Trevor Story recovers from UCL surgery, also initiated a double play in the top of the second.
Yoshida’s first at-bat of the year was also the first of his MLB career. He famously drew more walks than he struck out during his seven seasons in Japan’s Nippon league, but he contributed a sac fly to bring Devers home in the bottom of the inning. After a flyout to center in the bottom of the second, Yoshida’s day was done.
After the game, Yoshida told reporters via translator that acclimating to playing in the bright sunshine of American baseball is something he’s focusing on; the Japanese ballparks are domed.
Alex Verdugo contributed the second walk of the inning, and Jorge Alfaro, the catcher nicknamed Aquaman by his Dominican Winter League teammates, drew the third to load the bases for Triston Casas, who came up and also drew a walk (on four pitches), bringing in the first free run of the year. Is he the first non-catcher in MLB history to wear nail polish in a professional game?
Enmanuel Valdez, the top prospect acquired in the Christian Vázquez trade at last summer’s deadline, hit a gap shot to make it 5-0, still in the first. Cora raved about him on Thursday afternoon. “He can hit,” the Red Sox manager said. “This kid, he can hit. He controls the strike zone. He can hit.” Cora threw in a 2018 reference for good measure, saying Valdez and Wilyer Abreu, the outfield prospect from the same trade, “do damage in the strike zone.”
Ceddanne Rafaela impressed. The top prospect drew a two-out walk and then stole a base. He’s already been praised for his speed (he stole 28 bases in 116 MiLB games last year) and what Cora described as “plus-plus” defense, but what the Red Sox are really looking at this spring is his plate discipline. Sources tell the Herald that will determine if Rafaela begins the season with Double- or Triple-A,
and in the first game of the spring, he got off to a strong start in that regard.
Next up
The Red Sox go to North Port on Saturday for their first Grapefruit League game against the Braves. Christian Arroyo, Rob Refsnyder and Bobby Dalbec will represent the MLB position player contingent.
Meanwhile, back at JetBlue Park, Chris Sale will throw one inning of live batting practice, his first time facing hitters since his pinky fracture in July 2022. Next would be a two-inning live BP, followed by pitching in a spring training game. “Everything goes well, then he’ll be on the main stage,” Cora said.
Brayan Bello threw on Thursday and should throw again on Sunday, Cora says.
Corey Kluber is “right on track to be ready for the season opener,” Cora told reporters.
New and noteworthy
Chaim Bloom opened up to the Boston Globe about receiving death threats and being called an antisemitic slur. Though he described the incidents as “rare,” it’s troubling and unacceptable that people will go to such lengths over a baseball game. Countless athletes have shared disturbing messages they receive from people who consider themselves fans.
Casas is a unique personality in a game that prides itself on conformity and tradition. According to MassLive‘s Chris Cotillo, veteran players aren’t wild about the rookie first baseman’s regimen, which includes shirtless sunbathing in the outfield, pregame naps and painting his nails.
Casas appreciates the veterans’ guidance and says he wants to “go with the flow,” not “against the grain.” But “off the field, I am who I am,” he said.
Xander Bogaerts went on Rob Bradford’s “Baseball Isn’t Boring” show this week and spoke about the Red Sox calling him their “top priority” and “Option A” repeatedly over a period of months in the fall and early offseason. “Saying it and showing it I think it’s two different stuff, and obviously they have a little different way of showing it,” the former Boston shortstop said.
“I didn’t get my hopes up,” the two-time World Series champion said, but admitted the offer last spring training — reportedly one year, $30 million on top of the remainder of the teamfriendly deal he signed in 2019 — was “pretty rough, a little disappointing, to be honest.”
As to the question of whether Bogaerts would have taken a new extension if the Red Sox had made a serious offer last spring? Their reported final push back in December was six years, $160 million, at least $40 million less than a few teams offered. What if that had been the number last March? He told Bradford he would have been tempted “big time.”