The Red Sox haven’t made an abundance of changes during the offseason, but one aspect of the 2014 team that is definitely going to differ from the squad that won the World Series last year is who bats first.
With the departure of Jacoby Ellsbury to the Yankees, the Red Sox will have to put someone new in the lead-off spot. While they have a couple of viable options, it will probably take manager John Farrell some time and experimentation to determine which player works best at the top of the batting order.
Three potential options are Shane Victorino, Daniel Nava and Jackie Bradley Jr. Victorino isn’t a stranger to the position, but Nava and Bradley Jr. might also be able to excel in the lead-off role.
There’s still some speculation as to what both Nava and Bradley Jr.’s respective roles on the team will be — Nava might not be an everyday starter, and Bradley Jr.’s lack of experience could be a cause of concern — but hopefully for the Red Sox, the answer emerges early in the season.
Who would you like to see digging into the batter’s box as the Red Sox lead-off hitter this season? Vote in the poll below.
