Red Sox top performers for 2017 season’s first trimester

Aug 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (left) center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (center) and right fielder Mookie Betts (right) celebrate after the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Red Sox win 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (left) center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (center) and right fielder Mookie Betts (right) celebrate after the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Red Sox win 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
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With the Red Sox sitting in second place after the first trimester, who has been the best offensive player, pitcher, and defensive player so far?

Aug 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (left) center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (center) and right fielder Mookie Betts (right) celebrate after the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Red Sox win 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (left) center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (center) and right fielder Mookie Betts (right) celebrate after the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Red Sox win 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

With the first trimester of the season in the books, it’s time to take a look at who has been performing the best for the Boston Red Sox.

With a record of 32-25, the Sox currently sit two games behind the Yankees for the top spot in the American League East. It’s clear that Boston will be playing meaningful baseball late in the season as they look to make a deep run into the postseason.

With the loss of David Ortiz, the bats were the biggest question mark heading into this season. Who would fill the cleanup spot? Who will have the home run power that Big Papi provided for so many years?

One huge offseason addition for the Sox came when Chris Sale came over from the White Sox. Is he one of the Red Sox’s top performers so far? Let’s take a look at who has been hot for the Red Sox in the first third of the season.

Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) blows a bubble during the eighth 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 shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) blows a bubble during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Offensive Performer: Xander Bogaerts

Coming off a Silver Slugger award in 2016, Xander Bogaerts had little to improve upon on the offensive end of things. The All-Star ended the season with a .294 batting average with an .802 OPS, both well above his career average, yet has improved tremendously in 2017.

Through 55 games, Bogaerts is leading the team in both batting average and OPS, hitting .330 with an .849 OPS. Bogaerts’ hot bat has been a major reason that the Red Sox have been able to keep up with the Yankees in the East.

The 24-year old will more than likely be playing in his second straight All-Star game in Miami come June, and will look to continue his hot hitting through the second half of the season.

May 13, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) pitches during the first inning at against the Tampa Bay Rays Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) pitches during the first inning at against the Tampa Bay Rays Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Pitcher: Chris Sale

Is there even a debate here? Chris Sale has been exactly what the Red Sox imagined when they traded an arm and a leg for him in the offseason. In fact, Sale has exceeded his expectations.

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The lefty is top-10 in the league in ERA, and second in the AL in wins with seven. Sale would easily be the front-runner for the AL Cy Young Award if it wasn’t for Dallas Keuchel‘s perfect 9-0 record.

He is easily leading the league in strikeouts, with 119 K’s through just 84.0 IP, the next closest player is Max Scherzer, who only has only fanned 100 batters.

With David Price being on the disabled list for a majority of the first trimester, Sale had to step up and he did just that. With the return of Price, some of the weight will be lifted off of Sale’s shoulders, knowing he has another ace following him the next day.

If the Sox want to compete in the coming months and into the playoffs, Sale is going to have to continue his dominance, and provide many more quality starts.

May 16, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) fields a ground ball during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) fields a ground ball during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Defensive Player: Dustin Pedroia

While Jackie Bradley Jr. has been phenomenal in the outfield thus far, Pedroia has been even better at second base.

At 33 years old, Pedroia leads the league in almost every defensive category for second basemen. He has a perfect fielding percentage in 169 chances. To add to his already impressive stat line, he has 28 double plays and 101 assists in just 335 innings.

With Pedroia on the DL, the Red Sox have turned to Deven Marrero to fulfill his duties. While Pedroia’s talent level can’t be replicated, Marrero has done an exceptional job at second base in Pedroia’s absence.

Next: Red Sox Strut

Pedroia is another key player that needs to be healthy and at his best if the Red Sox want to overcome the Yankees in the East.

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