Rafael Devers: This is the Devers we were all hoping for. He's 2nd in the MLB in RBIs, 8th in home runs, 2nd in extra base hits, and his defense has greatly improved from earlier in the season. Right now, there isn't a better offensive third baseman in the game than Devers, and probably not a better one overall either.
Xander Bogaerts: Bogaerts is having yet another under the radar, yet incredibly strong season. He's batting a career high .327, has the third best offensive WAR in the MLB, and his 62 runs created speaks to his ability to get on base, and his
consistently clutch hitting. His .941 OPS is behind only Fernando Tatis in terms of shortstops.
J.D. Martinez: Martinez got off to a torrid start to the season, but has definitely cooled off over the last few months. He is still batting .302, and is 18th in the MLB with 51 RBI, and 32nd with 15 home runs. Along with Shohei Ohtani and Yordan Alvarez, he's a top 3 DH.
Hunter Renfroe: Renfroe has turned his game up a level in the past few months. After a cold start to the season average wise, he's suddenly hitting .273. He's on pace to blow away his career highs in both average and on base percentage. Since May, he is one of just nine players with at least 150 at bats to bat .300+ and hit ten home runs. He also leads the MLB with 11 outfield assists.
Verdugo Betts
Alex Verdugo: It is too bad that Verdugo will forever be compared to Mookie Betts, but that's just how it is, so I might as well fuel the fire. To the right is the comparison of their stats this season. Verdugo has had a strong season overall, and is even in the 2nd phase of All Star Game voting.
Christian Vazquez: Vazquez isn't lighting it up offensively, but he continues to be one of the game's best defensive players overall, as he ranks first among all catchers in defensive WAR. He still sits 7th among catchers with his .266 average, and somehow also leads Boston (and all MLB catchers) with 7 stolen bases.
Enrique Hernandez: With a .238 average, Kike hasn't been the perfect leadoff guy, but it seems like he finally might be settling in at that spot. Really not much to complain about for him overall. Also, he is completely changing the game in terms of baseball "pants" (see right).
Bobby Dalbec: When Dalbec has hit the ball this year he has hit it hard and far, as shown by his statcast numbers. The problem is, he just doesn't hit it all that much. There is reason for optimism though, as he does seem to be gradually increasing his average (it's up to .218), and when he hits the other way he becomes a much more dangerous hitter.
Marwin Gonzalez: Gonzalez is a phenomenal defensive player, who can literally play anywhere besides catcher. He has also been pretty terrible at the plate, hitting a career low .194. He's a good veteran leader, but is a complete hole in the batting order.
Christian Arroyo: Arroyo's four home runs this year (all of which have come in June), have all led to Boston victories. He has two game tying home runs and two game winning home runs, and has totaled 11 RBI just through those homers. He's currently on the IL, but when he returns will be a valuable guy off the bench, or could compete with Gonzalez for the starting second baseman role.
Michael Chavis: Chavis has been called up to the big club twice now, and is htting .245 in Boston. Nothing crazy for him, although his one walk compared to 18 strikeouts is definitely something to improve upon. He has played mostly second base despite playing more at first base and left field last season. He shouldn't ever be more than a bench player, and hopefully won't hit leadoff too many more times this season.
Franchy Cordero: Too be frank, Cordero was just about as bad as you can be to start the year with the Red Sox. His stats show that pretty clearly. His time in Worcester has been very positive though, so the question must be posed whether he is just a good minor leaguer, or whether he can actually perform to the MLB standard. It's very likely he gets at least one more chance with the big club this year.
Danny Santana: Through eight games and 35 plate appearances with Worcester, Santana had three home runs, and was batting .433. In his 25 games and 80 plate appearances since coming to Boston, he has hit one home run, and hit .151. In 2019 with the Texas Rangers he hit 28 home runs and batted .283, but ever since has simply been awful. He doesn't belong on the major league roster, never mind leading off.
Kevin Plawecki: Plawecki has fit the role of backup catcher pretty well. He's hitting a respectable .254 and is good behind the plate. Unfortunately he is currently on the IL, and has spent longer there than was previously expected.
Connor Wong: Wong wasn't hitting all that well in Worcester (.148 average), but he got the call up when Kevin Plawecki went to the IL. In his first game he scored a run after pinch running in the 11th inning, and in his first major league at bat he stroked a single into right field. He also caught a great game for Nate Eovaldi behind the plate.
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