Xander Bogaerts isn’t any less important. He’s just no longer front and center.
Bogaerts was one of the big stories last spring after his breakout performance in the Boston Red Sox’s 2013 World Series win. This spring training has presented the 22-year-old shortstop with an entirely different situation, though, as he’s flying under the radar while other developments dominate headlines.
“I like it better this way,” Bogaerts recently told ESPN.com’s Gordon Edes. “I’ve always been a laid-back guy. For me, this is much better.”
Bogaerts’ rapid ascent through the Red Sox system culminated with his emphatic arrival on Major League Baseball’s biggest stage. He then was labeled baseball’s No. 2 prospect behind Minnesota Twins farmhand Byron Buxton going into last season.
A rollercoaster rookie campaign has slowed the hype train to some extent, but that’s OK with Bogaerts. Last season weighed on him, both physically and mentally.
“It was tough, especially for someone like me, who has never been in a big spotlight like that,” Bogaerts told Edes. “The World Series made everything much bigger.
“Now there’s Mookie (Betts), and they’ve signed a lot of good players. To have (the spotlight) on them is good for me.”
Bogaerts’ confidence clearly wavered in 2014, especially when the club signed shortstop Stephen Drew and shifted the rookie to third base. The Aruba product is out to prove himself in 2015, though. He had a very productive offseason out in Arizona and now is drawing rave reviews at Red Sox camp.
“I’m just one year older, but I just feel more comfortable,” Bogaerts. “I struggled really badly last year. I don’t think it’ll get any worse than that. I’ve been through a lot, from the World Series through struggling that much, so what else can I do?”
As the starting shortstop on a team with World Series aspirations, Bogaerts inherently will face pressure this season and beyond. But he appears to be in a good place, which is an encouraging sign for the Red Sox.
Thumbnail photo via Brynn Anderson/The Associated Press
