Mookie Betts might be one player on the Boston Red Sox who wishes this season wouldn’t end.
Betts, who made waves with his rapid ascent through the Red Sox system, has been awesome since his most recent recall from Triple-A Pawtucket. The 21-year-old has displayed confidence, calmness and a unique skill set that justifies the hype surrounding his arrival.
“Mookie’s hand-eye coordination is so good,” Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks told the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton this weekend in Baltimore. “It’s easy for you to say, ‘Hey, go up there and just see the ball and hit it.’ He’s got it. A lot of guys in the league are talented and they’re smart hitters, but they don’t have what he has.
“He’s 140 pounds soaking wet and he’s out there crushing balls. How’s he doing this? He’s got that swing and he’s got quick hands.”
Betts is hitting .294 (35-for-119) with three homers, 11 RBIs, five stolen bases, a .387 on-base percentage and a .437 slugging percentage since being recalled Aug. 18. He has collected multiple hits in 10 of his last 22 games. It’s unclear where Betts will play in 2015 — Rusney Castillo’s arrival suggests Betts could wind up in a corner outfield spot — but it’s possible he could continue to be Boston’s leadoff hitter.
The challenge for Betts, of course, will be maintaining his current level of success. It won’t be easy, largely because he’s entering a stage where pitchers will more readily make adjustments against him. But the former fifth-round pick isn’t batting an eyelash. Instead, he’s staying calm, cool and collected.
“I’m sure they’re pitching me differently, but I’m not paying much attention to it,” Betts told Britton. “I feel like I have to keep myself the same. I’ll eventually adjust, but if I think about adjusting, that’s when things go out of whack.”
Betts’ business-as-usual approach makes sense. After all, it worked throughout his minor league career.
“With him, it’s the game makeup, the intelligence. There’s just something about him where he’s able to make those adjustments,” PawSox manager Kevin Boles told Britton. “He’s always kept a calm head. He understands this is going to be a process for him to go ahead and play the game and make those adjustments when needed.”
It’s been a horrendous season for the Red Sox in so many ways. One silver lining, however, is that Betts, who earned a big league call-up earlier than expected, is making the most of his opportunity.
Photo via Joy R. Absalon/USA TODAY Sports Images
