Red Sox Insider Uncovers Alex Bregman’s Special Impact On Teammates

As valuable as Alex Bregman is on the field, he’s just as valuable off it.

Bregman, who returns from the injured list on Friday, has given the Boston Red Sox a major boost this year after signing with them in the offseason.

He was playing at an MVP level before going down with a quad strain on May 23, batting .299/.385/.553 with 11 home runs, 17 doubles, 35 RBI and 2.9 WAR in 51 games. His start was so phenomenal that he still made the All-Star team despite missing the last seven weeks.

While his contributions as an elite hitter and third baseman are easy to see, it’s what he does behind the scenes that’s just as important.

In her article for The Athletic on Friday (subscription required), Red Sox beat writer Jen McCaffrey gave an inside look at Bregman’s impact on his new teammates, his leadership and his attention to detail.

Similar to former Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia, Bregman is always locked in, even when he’s not playing. Rather than focusing on himself, he’s always watching his teammates and looking for ways to help them improve, especially the younger ones.

He’s served as a de facto hitting coach for rookies like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, answering their questions and giving them batting tips in the dugout after at-bats.

“Every time he comes talk to me, I just go do what he says and something good happens,” Ceddanne Rafaela told McCaffrey.

Bregman knows what he’s talking about. He has 10 years of Major League experience, has made three All-Star teams and owns two World Series rings, so he knows what it takes to consistently win and succeed at the highest level.

The 31-year-old also has a close relationship with Alex Cora, who was his bench coach with the Houston Astros in 2017 and pushed for the front office to sign him last winter. Bregman frequently acts like an assistant coach, dishing out advice and taking younger players under his wing.

His mentorship and guidance has been invaluable for such a young roster, helping players like Anthony, Mayer and Rafaela develop faster than expected.

Bregman’s positive presence is a big reason why the Red Sox still managed to go 24-19 while he was on the injured list, largely because he helped younger players step up in his absence.

Now that he’s back, he can start pitching in again on the diamond, too.