Red Sox: Xander Bogaerts cleaning up

The Boston Red Sox have been experimenting with Xander Bogaerts in the cleanup spot this spring, which is typically reserved for power hitters.

What comes to mind when you think of a cleanup hitter in the middle of the lineup? A powerful slugger capable of swatting mammoth home runs is likely what your mind would jump to as the ideal candidate. Get the first three batters on base so that the guy hitting fourth can drive them all in with a grand slam, that’s the dream beginning to any game.

Are the Boston Red Sox trying to redefine what a No. 4 hitter should be?

Lately manager John Farrell has been experimenting with the unorthodox strategy of hitting shortstop Xander Bogaerts fourth in the lineup, with the powerful bat of David Ortiz typically in front of him. At first glance this appears backwards, but perhaps there is a method to this madness.

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Bogaerts has yet to show the type of power typically associated with a cleanup hitter. Last year American League teams averaged 28 home runs and a .800 OPS from the No. 4 spot in the lineup, while Bogaerts hit only 7 homers with a .776 OPS. Those are great numbers for a shortstop, but well below average for a cleanup hitter.

After beginning the 2015 season near the bottom of the lineup, Bogaerts quickly proved himself to be worthy of climbing his way toward the top. His 340 at-bats in the No. 3 spot were by far the most he accumulated at any spot in the order, with only 4 appearances hitting cleanup.

Next: Putting Big Papi third

Finishing second in the batting title race with a .320 average would suggest that Bogaerts should be hitting in one of the top three lineup spots, but a high batting average being vital for those hitting high in the order is a bit of a misconception. The key for those at the top of the lineup is to get on base. Bogaerts is certainly capable of that, but the amount of walks Ortiz draws (77 last year, 6th most in the league) resulted in a team-high .360 OBP.

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One benefit of having Ortiz hit third is that pitchers may be less eager to give Big Papi a free pass with Bogaerts looming. The young shortstop may not be a major threat to hit one out of the park, but he’s about as good as it gets when it comes to slapping a base hit to the opposite field to move runners along. The Red Sox will certainly be pleased if the end result of hitting Ortiz third is that he gets more pitches to hit.

Even if Bogaerts doesn’t have the home run power that a slugger like Ortiz has, he still hits for extra-bases. Last year his 35 doubles tied for 12th most in the league and he also added 3 triples. Hitting cleanup isn’t just about smashing home runs, it’s about driving in runners that get on base. Bogaerts hit .331 with runners in scoring position last year, which trailed only lead-off hitter Mookie Betts among Red Sox hitters that saw at least 70 at-bats in that situation.

Next: More power on the horizon

Besides, who says that a power surge isn’t coming for the 23-year old?

“Conventional wisdom says power is the last thing to come for a player at the major league level,” Farrell told reporters, per ESPN’s Scott Lauber. “Whether or not that plays out for Xander, we’ll see. He has those capabilities.”

When Bogaerts was coming up through the farm system as the top prospect in the organization a few years ago he was projected to have above-average power for his position. He hasn’t shown it yet, but that’s partially by design. He has preferred to follow the model of childhood idol Derek Jeter by hitting the ball to all fields, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of muscling up to drive one over the fences. If you have ever watched Bogaerts take batting practice you know that he has the strength to do it and his power will only develop further as he grows into his prime.

The Red Sox aren’t necessarily asking him to change his approach, but they would like to see him drive the ball more when he’s ahead in the count. Bogaerts is aware of this and suggested that he may adjust his approach in fastball counts, which could lead to more power production.

“Maybe this year, it depends on the count — 3-1, 2-1, if the opportunity presents itself — I might try to go for one,” said Bogaerts. “But I definitely wasn’t thinking of hitting them out [last year]. We have David. We have Hanley [Ramirez]. We have Pablo [Sandoval]. We have those guys who can do that.”

Well, perhaps we shouldn’t be counting on Sandoval to contribute much in the power department (or much at all, for that matter). Plus it won’t be long before the Red Sox need to add more pop to their lineup to make up for the loss of Ortiz.

With Ortiz set to retire at the end of this upcoming season he’ll be looking to pass the torch to the next generation that will lead this lineup. Bogaerts may never have the 40-50+ homer power that Ortiz had in his prime, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be an effective cleanup hitter.

Next: Spring experiment or here to stay?