Red Sox: The most crucial positions for the 2017 season

Designated hitter

Becoming the heir to the unofficially-labeled “David Ortiz position of the designated hitter”, Ramirez is tasked with a difficult order, replacing the future Hall of Famer. Although Ramirez will play some first base from time-to-time, this will be Ramirez’ third primary position switch in his third year in Boston.

Offensively, questions will be raised of Ramirez in Boston media circles and potentially in the front office as well.

Which Hanley are we going to see? Will he be able to repeat the same kinds of offensive numbers that served as a catalyst for the Red Sox in the second-half of last season?

Another interesting question to be asked is how Ramirez will handle the switch from playing the field. Ramirez may have already found the answer he was looking for, not from his inner mind, but from the personal experience of his best friend.

Surrounded by a bevy of members of the Boston media on an early day in Ft. Myers, Ramirez talked on the advice that Ortiz gave him.

From Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com:

"“Some day you’re going to get crazy because all you can do is hit and when things are not going good, what can you do?” Ramirez recalled his conversation with Ortiz. “You just go out there and try not to think about it until your next at-bat. Honestly he told me at first it’s going to be a little hard because when you can play defense you can help the team in two ways. But DH it’s pretty much just offense but I’ve just got to find a way to separate between those at-bats and cheer from the dugout.”"

After hitting .286 with 30 home runs and 111 runs batted in in 2016, Ramirez can expect even more run scoring opportunities, he just needs to continue capitalizing on them.