Boston Red Sox: Five players who produced breakout seasons in 2016
By Tracy Katzke
The 2016 Boston Red Sox would not have qualified for the postseason without the significant and unexpected contributions from five players that had breakout seasons.
The Boston Red Sox 2016 season was a success on so many levels. Of course, how far we venture into the postseason will have a lot to do with how this season is ultimately viewed, but, regardless of the amount of postseason success that this Red Sox team attains, five players in particular upped their games considerably.
What is so fascinating about these five remarkable players and their “breakout” seasons is that all of them, with the exception of Mookie Betts, experienced persistent failure, yet persevered through it to achieve success.
The breakout seasons of Sandy Leon and Steven Wright are rendered all-the-more-remarkable when one considers that both were relegated to nearly a decade in the minor leagues. How many people would have given up their dreams long before a decade had passed? My guess is the vast majority.
Such perseverance speaks volumes regarding the psychological strength of these individuals, and one must believe that the more difficult the road to success, the more that success is appreciated upon finally attaining it.