BOSTON — Hanley Ramirez has come a long way from where he was in 2015, and the Red Sox have taken notice.
The former shortstop/third baseman became a left fielder upon signing with the Red Sox last offseason, and it kicked off perhaps the most miserable year of his career. Ramirez started off hot in April with 10 home runs but ended his 2015 campaign with a .249 average, 19 homers and 53 RBIs, all while floundering in the outfield. But now that Ramirez is back in the infield at first base, he’s been more successful on the field.
“Everything we could have hoped,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Ramirez’s performance at first before Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. “He’s played it, I think, with ease. He’s put in a lot of work to get familiar with the different positioning and footwork around the bag. We have a player I think completely different than a year ago. He’s engaged, he’s having fun playing the game.”
Before Sunday’s game, Ramirez was batting .293 with a home run and five RBIs over 10 games. He’s played good defense, and he’s been hustling around the bases. Farrell thinks a lot of it has to do with Ramirez playing where he’s more comfortable.
“I think being back on the in infield has been a big boost to that,” Farrell said. “He’s doing one heck of a job. What he’s doing on the basepaths has been impressive. (Friday), the swing-and-miss on the strike three set up the whole three-run inning in the first. He’s hustling. He’s very engaged. He’s doing a very good job.”
Ramirez also has been a lot looser in the clubhouse, which is something Farrell appreciates.
“I think he’s playing with some freedom, and it’s shown up in his personality,” Farrell said. “We see it in the way he interacts with fans. There’s been a — to Hanley’s credit, whether it’s a conscious effort to make a change, we’ve got a different player, to his credit. He’s always in the fun and the noise and the joking around in the clubhouse, which is a good thing. He’s in a good place.”
Thumbnail photo via David Richard/USA TODAY Sports Images
