LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — San Diego Padres general manager Jed Hoyer saw Adrian Gonzalez do some special things in his time with the club. He also saw a guy that could be even better if in another park. For instance, Fenway Park.
"He hit so many fly balls the other way, so many times they just died on the warning track in Petco Park," Hoyer said Monday, referencing the fact that many of those balls will be doubles or home runs in Boston. "I think he's gonna be a monster at Fenway Park."
Hoyer also used the term "unbelievable" to describe the impact Gonzalez could have in a more hitter-friendly environment. And it's not just what he sees with his own two eyes that would suggest such an altering… The numbers alone would indicate an uptick from the 30-homer, 100-RBI campaign usually put forth by Gonzalez.
For his career, the 28-year-old Gonzalez owns a .943 OPS on the road, compared to an .800 mark at home. His batting averages in both situations are .303 and .263, respectively. Translating his expected numbers at Fenway into a full season of stats could give him some positively eye-popping numbers.
Throw in the fact that Gonzalez was simply passed by in the weak-hitting Padres lineup and you have further evidence to suggest he could approach or fly past career highs in all categories. He was intentionally walked 35 times last year, eight fewer than the Red Sox as a team.
"The Red Sox got themselves a great player," Hoyer said.
