Mookie Betts – 20 Home Runs
Sean: Over – He had 18 last year at the age of 22, so it’s not much of a leap to expect him to crack 20. The Red Sox will need a power boost from Betts now that he’s been pushed to a corner outfield spot.
Jorge: Over – Betts showed his power the second half of 2015 and that’s only a sign of things to come. He can easily be a 30 HR guy with that swing playing 81 games in Fenway.
Drew: Over – He is going to get better as he becomes more familiar with the pitchers and hammers inside mistakes, which he will do often at Fenway.
Rick: Over – He will be in the All-Star game as a starter.
Hanley Ramirez – 20 Home runs
Sean: Over – He finished with 19 a year ago in only 105 games, so he should breeze past 20 as long as he can stay healthy. He hit 10 home runs last April before running into a wall in left field, sapping his power for weeks. Ramirez isn’t the 30-homer slugger that his contract suggests he should be, having only topped that mark once in his career, but he should hit in the mid-20’s.
Jorge: Under – Under: Playing a new position (again) will be a challenge for him that I believe will impact on his offense (again). If his defense is as horrible as it was last year and Travis Shaw takes over, he won’t be able to get to 20 HRs.
Drew: Over – He will be more comfortable even at the new position and mash at least 30 in that lineup.
Rick: Over – If he plays 140 games he will touch 30.
Xander Bogaerts – 15 Home Runs
Sean: Over – There is still more untapped power potential in his bat. He hit 12 homers two years ago and should easily return to double-digits this season. It may come at the expense of his batting average, but if Bogaerts can develop into a 20 home run hitter that can still flirt with a .300 average, the Red Sox will gladly take that from their young shortstop.
Jorge: Under – Last season was nothing but phenomenal for Bogaerts and the fact that he almost won a batting title in his second full-season at the Major League level shows the talent that he has. However, I would love to see some power from him but considering what we’ve seen from him, he doesn’t strike me as the home run hitter guy.
Drew: Over – This will be the year his power stroke comes through. With a better team, it will increase his confidence and he will start to pound balls over the Monster. His 3 homers in September of last year show that power is about to come out more prominently next season. 20 homers for Xander next season.
Rick: Under – His batting average will stay around .300. Might get 45 doubles.
David Ortiz – Over 30 Home Runs and 100 RBI
Sean: Under – Ortiz has met or exceeded these thresholds in each of the last three seasons and 9 of his 13 seasons in Boston, so you almost expect him to keep putting up these lofty totals. Then you realize that Big Papi is now 40 years old and it’s been nearly 30 years since we’ve seen a player that age blast 30+ homers or drive in 100+ runs, let alone hit both of those marks. He also may need to be rested more often this season, which will cut into his totals. Ortiz will still have a solid season, but at his age can’t be counted on to carry the lineup the way he has in the past.
Drew: Over – I think the big man will be supremely motivated to go out with a flourish and he will be able to stay healthy and get those milestones in his final season, or at worst one of those numbers if not the other.
Rick: Over – Every year he seems to churn out numbers. I may get some of those “Vitamins.”
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