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Watch Mookie Betts set the Red Sox franchise record for leadoff homers

Daniel Cassese
Daniel Cassese

BoSox Injection

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JULY 9: Mookie Betts

The young superstar keeps etching his name into Red Sox history. Mookie Betts set the franchise record for leadoff home runs against the Rays, Sunday.

In the first inning of Boston’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts stroked his 11th career leadoff home run, passing Jacoby Ellsbury for the club record.

In his 308th career start in the leadoff position, Betts took an 85 mph Chris Archer slider over the wall in left-center to give the Red Sox a quick 1-0 lead.


At just 24-years-old, the All-Star right fielder continues to cement a lasting legacy in Boston. In just his third professional season, and second full season, he’s hitting .272 with a .834 OPS, 16 home runs, and 53 RBIs.

Building off his MVP-runner up campaign in 2016, Betts is set to start in right field at the 2017 All-Star Game and is looking to lead the Red Sox to back-to-back divisional titles.

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He’s currently on pace to reach 29 homers this season, which would nearly replicate his career high of 31 just a year ago. At the time of writing, Betts is fourth in the American League with an fWAR of 3.8.

Daniel Cassese

Daniel Cassese

Daniel is currently a senior at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, majoring in Political Science. He founded his own sports blog in April of 2016 and has parlayed that experience into successful ventures as a contributor for other sites, culminating in his position as Co-Expert on BoSox Injection. Daniel is also the managing editor of an academic journal at Queen's that focuses on International Relations and Foreign Policy.