Does Sample Size Make Tyler O’Neill’s Red Sox Tenure More Impressive?

BOSTON — Tyler O’Neill keeps on producing for the Red Sox, most recently blasting a walk-off, three-run home run to defeat the Baltimore Orioles in a 5-3 win Wednesday at Fenway Park.

That’s one way to hit homer No. 30 of the season in style.

“It’s great for him,” Boston starter Nick Pivetta said. “He’s been crushing the ball lately. He’s locked in in those counts. He was able to crush a ball and put us through. It’s huge for the team and for the atmosphere of the ballpark.”

A power season like that is special enough for any hitter. It’s even more impressive given that O’Neill missed 45 games so far this season with various injuries. In a smaller sample size than most players, the Red Sox outfielder keeps on crushing baseballs.

O’Neil entered the day Wednesday with an .889 OPS and ended the night by tallying 30 homers for just the second time in his MLB career. He’s the right-handed power Boston’s needed and still needs in an uphill climb of a playoff race.

“I’m really proud of all the work that I’ve done this year,” O’Neill said. “I started in the offseason, just making sure physically I’m in a really good spot to be able to go out and produce on a day-to-day basis. I’m seeing the results of that for sure. Playing here at Fenway, the ball plays to left field. I’m not going out there trying to pull it or anything. Being able to allow it to work has worked well for me.”

Alex Cora and O’Neill agreed his leg infection that led to a hospital stay earlier this summer derailed even more progress for the 29-year-old. Nonetheless, Cora loves the impact the veteran brings to the Red Sox lineup, especially at this point in the season.

“Little by little, he’s been feeling great,” Cora said. “We’ve been talking about it. (Rob Refsnyder) mentioned it two days ago, right? It feels like every pitch, every at-bat he’s going to do damage with it. We needed that one. That was huge.”

O’Neill’s clutch blast keeps the Red Sox within four games of a playoff spot with 16 games remaining.