"Instead of playing as much golf as I planned on this offseason, I really worked on my swing," Ross said. "Just focused on staying back and staying relaxed. One of the main keys was starting earlier."
The extra effort is noticeable. During Friday's 9-7 victory over the Twins, the outfielder hammered two home runs –– both of them two-run shots –– over the left field wall at Hammond Stadium.
Ross has savored one of the strongest springs in his career, amassing six homers to lead the Red Sox. He credits the stretch to analyzing video of his swing during the offseason in an attempt to re-gain his rhythm at the plate.
"I just plan on keep doing it, keep going," Ross said. "I feel good. It's nice to feel good in spring training and obviously carry it through the season. I've had both sides where you struggle during the spring, or you go into the season with no confidence. So hopefully this year it's a little different."
Each of the six round-trippers that Ross has blasted in Florida have been pulled to left field. He went 2-for-3 with four RBIs against Minnesota to raise his batting average to .366 for the spring.
"Any time you go to a new team, you feel like you have to prove yourself again," Ross said. "Especially when you're coming off a bad year, you feel like you have to show people that I can still play, I can still compete at a high level, I'm still a good player. It's constant pressure."
Before the game, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine expressed his intention to slot the 31-year-old in left field while Carl Crawford rehabs from wrist surgery.
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