BOSTON — Xander Bogaerts is a tough egg to crack.
The perception of Bogaerts changed dramatically last season when the former top prospect’s confidence wavered less than a year after he showed tremendous poise in the Red Sox’s 2013 World Series win. That perception is starting to shift back toward the positive end of the spectrum, though, as Bogaerts’ game-winning hit in Sunday’s 7-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park served as the latest indication that he’s feeling more comfortable as he progresses through his sophomore campaign.
“He’s right in the middle of it,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said after Sunday’s comeback win. “He’s hitting right around .300. He’s putting up quality at-bats. He’s giving in to certain counts and looking to take the ball the other way in certain situations. But he’s playing relaxed, confident. You can see the rhythm at the plate is much more free right now than maybe a month ago. He’s certainly playing to his capabilities.”
Bogaerts had only one hit Sunday, but he made it count. He planted a two-run, two-out, two-strike double off the Green Monster in the eighth inning to catapult the Red Sox in front of the A’s as part of a seven-run rally. Bogaerts knew exactly what he was looking from A’s reliever Tyler Clippard.
“I was not looking for a fastball that whole at-bat and he threw me a lot (of fastballs),” Bogaerts said. “I just fouled them off, stayed alive. I was looking for a changeup since pitch 1 and he threw me one right there (on the sixth pitch).”
Bogaerts sat on a changeup because he knew the book on Clippard, who has thrown his changeup a career-high 43.7 percent of the time this season. The 22-year-old has been working extensively with hitting coach Chili Davis and assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez, but there’s a difference between game planning and actually executing within a pressure-packed situation. Credit Bogaerts for staying patient, especially since he fouled off three fastballs over the course of his eighth-inning at-bat before finally getting a pitch to drive.
“What he’s doing a good job at is, because he is relaxed, when he gets a pitch out over the plate, he’s not missing it,” Farrell said. “And that’s what took place in the eighth.”
Late-game heroics have been uncommon for this year’s Red Sox, who entered Sunday with a 1-26 record when trailing after seven innings. But Bogaerts entered the contest hitting .476 (17-for-36) with a homer, three RBIs and a 1.096 OPS in 41 plate appearances in “late and close” situations. (Baseball-Reference defines “late and close” as plate appearances in the seventh inning or later with the batting team tied, ahead by one or the tying run at least on deck.) It’s safe to say he hasn’t been too rattled in tight spots.
“I’m just trying to have fun,” Bogaerts said. “Trying not to overthink a lot of stuff, knowing that this game is all about failure and how you deal with it. Just always keeping confidence high no matter how bad or good you’re doing.”
Shifting to third base in 2014 when the Red Sox signed shortstop Stephen Drew clearly messed with Bogaerts’ head, as it wasn’t until the tail end of the season that the young infielder began to make significant strides upon transitioning back to his natural position. The ordeal ultimately served as an invaluable learning experience, however, as Bogaerts’ skin now appears much thicker because of it.
And, as we all know, thick skin is an asset when playing in Boston.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@PeteAbe
