Red Sox: Can Hanley Ramirez replicate last season’s production?
By Sean Penney
One of the biggest questions facing the Boston Red Sox entering this season is if Hanley Ramirez can provide the run production that he delivered in 2016.
Which version of Hanley Ramirez will the Boston Red Sox get this year? It’s a fair question to ask considering the drastically different performances we’ve witnessed through his first two seasons since signing a 4-year, $88 million free agent contract.
2015 proved to be a disastrous return to the franchise that drafted him fifteen years earlier. Ramirez failed to adjust to his new position in left field, rating among the worst defensive players in baseball at any position.
His glove was considered an afterthought when the Red Sox signed him. They were paying him to hit, but unfortunately he didn’t deliver at the plate either. Ramirez managed a mere .249 average, .717 OPS, 19 home runs and 53 RBI that season, falling far short of expectations for the highest paid hitter on the team.
Last year, Ramirez salvaged his Red Sox career, shedding the dreaded bust label by bursting out with a .286 average, .866 OPS, 30 home runs and 111 RBI. Providing serviceable defense after transitioning to first base was the icing on the cake.
Can Ramirez replicate last year’s home run and RBI production? That remains one of the biggest questions entering the 2017 season. With David Ortiz‘s retirement costing the Red Sox a significant portion of their offensive firepower, they’ll need Ramirez’ bat in the middle of the order more than ever.