Boston Red Sox roster HOF possibilities
By Rick McNair
Futurists Only
MLB Stats: 318 G, 1298 PA, 336 H, 65 2B, 4 3B, 151 R, 20 HR, 132 RBI, .281/.327/.392
Best HOF Comp: Lou Boudreau.
The pure projections are the only substantive reason to place XB on any type of HOF wish list. What is his advantage is he is only 23-years-old and is arguably among the best shortstops in either league. Physically, Bogaerts appears to have a body type that can perform without a monthly visit to the DL.
Bogaerts can hit and if he continues to routinely plug away at .300+ with some reasonable extra base power you have that rarity of a good hitting shortstop. And Bogaerts is no slouch with the glove and finished among the top five in various fielding metrics, so the path is clear.
You look at players with similar offensive numbers at Bogaerts age and four are in the HOF. However, six are not. Bogaerts’ 162 game projection is excellent, but not earth shattering. That, however, can change dramatically if the real Bogaerts is the 2015 edition and not the one of 2014.
MLB Stats: 197 G, 867 PA, 229 H, 54 2B, 9 3B, 126 R, 23 HR, 95 RBI, .291/.348/.471
Best HOF Comp: Andre Dawson.
The statistical sky is the limit for Betts, who appears on the path to being a legit five-tool player. What is also becoming noticeable is the ability for Betts to be a line drive machine. In 2015, it was 18 home runs, 42 doubles, and eight triples. Betts can hit and hit hard. Toss in 21 steals in 27 tries and a very good glove that at times borders on spectacular and you have the right path to the HOF.
Betts, to me, has a higher HOF profile than Bogaerts and as with XB it will be all about the numbers and that means a steady growth in production for the next three or four seasons followed by five solid core years before the inevitable slide downward. If that happens then another number will be hanging up in right field.
HOF Outlook: Strong.