Red Sox: Who are the most lovable players on the team right now?
In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s countdown who the most lovable current Red Sox are!
Guys, it’s Valentine’s Day. Now instead of panicking and rushing to the store to get flowers that we both know you forgot, let’s spend some time talking about our second love, the Boston Red Sox.
Pitchers and catchers reported yesterday, which means that the season is just around the corner. There still have not been many big name free agents that have signed, including JD Martinez.
But the team that Boston is heading into 2018 with is good enough to win the division again. But we are not looking for another division title. The Red Sox have a history of winning titles, it’s now time to win another one.
Those are lofty goals, but with a new manager, a healthy David Price, and a bounce back from Mookie Betts, Boston can play in the Fall Classic.
But enough about that. It is Valentine’s Day, so let’s look at the most lovable players on this current Red Sox team.
There have been a lot of lovable players in Red Sox history. Just a few that come to mind are David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, and Nomar Garciaparra. And those are all just in the last 20 years!
But on the current team, there are a lot of players to love. So let’s start out with the players that just missed the top three.
Honorable Mentions:
Jackie Bradley Jr.
Jackie Bradley Jr is a fan favorite just based off his incredible defense. Bradley is known as one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, and if you look at his highlight reel, you will understand why.
But fans also love him for how hard he plays. For Boston fans, no matter what sport, if you play hard, the fans will love you. Bradley has thrown caution to the wind several times while making incredible plays.
If the offensive output can match the defensive output soon, fans will love him even more.
Chris Sale
Chris Sale makes the list just because his sheer dominance, and the amount of fans that will stop whatever they are doing to watch him pitch.
Outside of Boston, fans may not love Sale as much as Red Sox fans do. But what he did in his first season for the Red Sox has helped him gain superstar status among Sox fans. Much like Bradley, Sale is loved for the ferocity he pitches with on every fifth day.
Nobody in baseball brings it harder than Sale does, and as fans, we can all appreciate that.
Joe Kelly
This one can be summed up in one sentence: If you do not follow Joe Kelly on Twitter, it’s your loss. Kelly is one of the funniest follows in baseball, much less the Red Sox.
His production on the mound is starting to follow suit of his twitter game, which is very strong. He has gotten more comfortable year by year, and had the opportunity to be the Red Sox second best bullpen option last year if injuries did not derail that.
Kelly even interrupted the Red Sox patented Win Dance Repeat celebration this past season. It’s safe to say that not only the fans, but the Red Sox players love Kelly as well.
Rafael Devers
Sure, Rafael Devers has only been with the Red Sox for half a season, but there are already tons of memorable moments from the kid.
We love him because of the home run off of Aroldis Chapman in Yankee Stadium. We love him for the inside the park home run against the Astros, even though the Red Sox fell short. But we really love him because the joy he has when he plays.
Devers reminds us all of what it was like to play in little league, and whenever you got a big hit and you could not help but flash a big grin because you knew you had accomplished something.
When he got the call up in the middle of the year, you could really tell that the veterans embraced him. Hanley Ramirez took him under his wing during the season, and Devers thrived the entire time.
All Red Sox fans cannot wait to see what else he can bring to the table. Sure, there is room for improvement on the defensive end, but from everything we have seen, we know he will be ready to work and get better at it.
If 2017 was any indication of what he can bring to the table, 2018 might be a good year for the Red Sox.
Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts has been a fan favorite since he joined the big league club in 2014. For a better part of the last three years, he has patrolled right field, and done an excellent job at it.
He’s finished in the top six of MVP voting the last two years, including a runner-up in 2016, which was his breakout onto the world stage.
Much for the same reasons as Devers, Betts is loved by fans for the joy and passion he brings. You would be hard pressed to find a Red Sox player who plays harder than he does. But fans also love him because he produces, and produces at a high clip.
His 2017 season was definitely a step back, but he was still the same player on defense. Hopefully a change in management and coaching can help him get back to MVP form again.
It is impossible to go to a game at Fenway Park and not see thousands of people wearing a number 50 jersey.
It was a tough choice to put Betts at number two, because he would be number one for most teams. But the number one choice for the Red Sox is pretty easy.
Andrew Benintendi
Andrew Benintendi is the most lovable Red Sox player, and maybe the most lovable player in baseball.
Benintendi is a humble star, but he also let’s you know he has the game to back up the hype. 2017 was a good rookie campaign for him, but it was overshadowed by Aaron Judge. He would have been rookie of the year in most years, but not in 2017.
Benintendi can bring every facet of the game to the table, and that’s why the fans love him. He can hit for average, hit for power, steal bases, and play the field.
But let’s be honest, we all love him for the flow he rocked last year. Benintendi was one half of the Flow Bros with Brock Holt. He has since cut his hair, leaving a spot open for one half of the bros. To be honest, he will always be a part of the group.
If he can continue to improve for the Red Sox, his stock will only get higher.
Next: Report: Red Sox in discussions with reliever Tony Watson
Red Sox fans only hope that Benny can hold down left field for many years to come. He has a long ways to go to be the best to play left field for Boston, but he doesn’t have far to go to be the most lovable left fielder in recent memory.