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Red Sox Strut: Mitch Moreland and Chris Sale lead the pack

By Matthew Loper

Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland (18) heads to first base after hitting a two RBI single during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland (18) heads to first base after hitting a two RBI single during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

And this week’s offensive Strutter is…Mitch Moreland

When the Red Sox brought in the 31-year old Mitch Moreland as a free agent this offseason, most fans weren’t expecting much out of him. They were just hoping to get an average hitter that could help platoon first base with Hanley Ramirez. Boston has been getting way more out of Moreland than they could have ever imagined.

Moreland’s career batting average is .255. He is currently hitting a whopping .356 in 45 at-bats this year. And the guys is just a doubles machine! Moreland cracked six doubles just last week and also clobbered a home run. On a team that is struggling with power numbers, those doubles really come in handy and have provided a spark for the rest of the offense. NESN noted that Moreland even set a record for the most doubles through just 12 games.

His average last week was an amazing .407 (11-for-27) and he’s striking out a lot less than he has previously in his career. Not only is on fire at the moment, but timely hitting has been crucial for Moreland.

He wasn’t able to get one of his signature doubles on Sunday, but he decided to contribute in a different way with two huge singles and three big-time RBI including the a two-run single that proved to be the game-winner.

I’m not expecting Moreland to keep this pace up for the whole year, but the Red Sox need to take advantage of it while they can and while their go-to guys like Betts, Bogaerts and Hanley get back on track in 2017. Perhaps a change of scenery has reenergized Moreland. Whatever it is, I hope it keeps up because it has led to him strutting his stuff this week!

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