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Red Sox: 5 questions to follow this season

By Jake Perelmuter

Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park during the national anthem before game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park during the national anthem before game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park during the national anthem before game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park during the national anthem before game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

With less than 24 hours until the 2017 season kicks off, I examine what I’ll be looking at this season.

The days are longer, the snow has melted, and the gates at Fenway Park are almost open. At last, we have endured the worst few months of the year and are a matter of hours away from the first pitch of 2017.

The Boston Red Sox have had an eventful offseason, headlined by the acquisition of 5-time All-Star Chris Sale, and are among the league’s favorites to win the World Series. Some question marks remain, however, that will determine the Red Sox’ success. Here, I take a look at the five most looming questions of 2017:

Will Andrew Benintendi live up to the hype?

Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Red Sox fans, get excited. Andrew Benintendi, the consensus top prospect in baseball and favorite to win the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year award, is ready for the show. Benintendi has dominated at every level he has played in. He won the 2015 Golden Spikes Award given to the nation’s best college baseball player and then proceeded to shoot through the minor leagues, reaching the big league squad after just 151 games.

If that wasn’t enough to prove that he’s legitimate, he continued to impress at the major league level. After being called up in August, Benintendi hit a slash line of .295/.359/.476 with above average defense in 34 games.

He’s has bulked up this offseason and had an exceptional Spring Training, hitting a line of .344/.423/.639 with 3 home runs. Red Sox fans cannot wait to see what he brings to the table this season as he begins to tap into his All-Star – and possibly MVP – potential.

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