Through 10 games, Hermida is batting just .219, but he has a .500 slugging percentage and an OPS of .742, both of which rank near the top of the Boston leaderboard in the early going.
Not only is Hermida flashing the power, he simply looks like he belongs at the plate. He is country strong and looks a bit like a young Trot Nixon with a bat in his hands.
Since coming to Boston this offseason, Hermida hasn't lacked for playing time due to injuries to Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron, but should the big 26-year-old stay in the lineup even when the two return?
Given that the Sox are off to a 4-9 start, perhaps Boston should keep Hermida in the lineup whenever they can in the early going. Reversing the team's losing ways will always be manager Terry Francona's top priority, and taking one of his hottest hitters out of the lineup may not be the way to change course.
The flip side of the argument is that Cameron is no slouch with the bat, either, and will eventually get it going. After all, he was signed to be the starter for the Red Sox and 13 games of struggles won't change that. In addition, for all of Hermida's potential and flashes of power, he's still batting just .219.
Playing time might be hard to come by once Ellsbury and Cameron return, but Hermida could enter into a time-share at designated hitter, giving David Ortiz a day off here and there and replacing Cameron (with Ellsbury shifting to center) against tough right-handers. Cameron historically has success against lefties, while right-handers give him trouble.
Such an arrangement would keep Hermida in the lineup on a more regular basis.
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April 19: Do the Red Sox have enough offense to contend in the AL East?
