How Alex Bregman Has ‘Already Impacted’ Red Sox Upon Arrival

Alex Bregman has officially been a member of the Boston Red Sox for just 24 hours, but the organization already feels the dividends paying off.

Bregman agreed to a three-year, $120 million deal with Boston in free agency last week and quickly joined his new team in Fort Myers, Fla., for spring training. So far, it’s been a meet-and-greet process for Bregman to get acclimated with his new teammates, coaches and other Red Sox representatives. But even though Bregman hasn’t taken the field for an official game, the team loves what it’s seen.

The two-time World Series champion departs the Houston Astros after an elite nine-year run as a franchise cornerstone, garnering loads of experience that Bregman can now share with Boston’s youth-filled clubhouse this upcoming season.

“It’s important for winning organizations. In 24 hours, he has impacted the organization already,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters Sunday, as seen on NESN. “Just seeing him walk into the clubhouse, walking into the office and talk baseball, it’s refreshing, it’s great and one thing he’s gonna do: he’s gonna challenge everybody here. I know that. He’s gonna challenge you.”

Cora and Bregman spent a lone season together in Houston, standing alongside for the organization’s first World Series victory — over the Los Angeles Dodgers. At the time, Cora was a first-year bench coach and Bregman was a pivotal member of a star cast in the American League West, giving teams — including the Red Sox — problems throughout the last decade. Cora saw first-hand what kind of player Bregman is and what difference his presence could make to any club.

Eight years later, Cora and Bregman are reunited in Boston and this time, it’s about getting the Red Sox back on track after three straight postseason misses.

Bregman spent the majority of this offseason directly tied to the Red Sox. Cora vocally vouched for the 30-year-old, and with the ongoing desire to add a right-handed bat, the opportunity lined up perfectly for Bregman to join Boston and upgrade a roster poised to compete in the AL.

Cora’s words have now come to life as the impression Bregman left on Boston’s skipper in Houston has now spread amongst the Red Sox.

“I think in 24 hours, his teammates, the coaching staff, the front office have seen why I’ve been talking about him for a long period of time,” Cora said. “This kid gets it. He caught my attention in 2017 and throughout the years, he keeps evolving, he keeps getting better and the most important thing, he wants to win. That’s it. For him, it’s his family, it’s baseball and winning, and I’m excited to have him here now.”

The Red Sox haven’t made any official announcements regarding Bregman’s role with the team. With Rafael Devers being the team’s starting third baseman for the past seven seasons — a position Bregman has played 995 games in his career — Boston has had Bregman undergo fielding drills at third base, second base and shortstop.

Bregman took home his first career Gold Glove Award last season, beating out fellow third basemen Ernie Clement from the Toronto Blue Jays and José Ramírez from the Cleveland Guardians.