Red Sox Xander Bogaerts reaches 1,000 career hits before 27th birthday

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts became the third player in Red Sox history to reach 1,000 hits before his 27th birthday.

Xander Bogaerts, a name baseball fans are going to remember in 2019. The Boston Red Sox shortstop has once again produced noteworthy numbers worth celebrating during a four-game home stance against the New York Yankees. The arch-rivals see a lot of each other, so it’s no big surprise that Xander puts up numbers against them.

The young 26-year old Arubian shortstop was drafted out of high school. He made his MLB debut in August 2013 when he was 20. Over his 7 years in the majors, he’s been to 2 World Series, 2 All-Star Games, and he’s been a Silver Slugger 2 times. He has a career .309 BA, .385 OBP, .570 SLG.

He’s had numerous appearances on the Leaders board (appearing in the top 10). Including 4 seasons for Defensive Games (as a shortstop), Putouts (as a shortstop); 3 seasons for Hits, At-Bats, and Fielding Percentage (as a shortstop); 2 seasons for his offensive WAR, Runs Scored, Runs Batted In, Slugging Percentage, Doubles, Singles, Times on Base, Double Plays Turned (as a shortstop), Assists (as a shortstop), and as the youngest.

2019 has been a roller coaster ride for Red Sox fans. What’s 2019 been like for Xander? It’s been a career season. He has a .309 BA, .385 OBP, .570 SLG. He has 31 home runs, 105 RBIs, 168 hits. Unfortunately, for a fan who loves to see the base-stealing game he only has 4 stolen bases (note to Alex Cora- let’s see more of this in the 2020 season, please?).

As of Saturday evening, Xander, Rafael Devers, and Nicholas Castellanos are in a three-man tie leading the league with 49 doubles.

Six years ago, against the Yankees, Bogaerts experienced his first career home run on September 7, 2013. Fast forward six years in a game against the Yankees, and Xander became the third player in Red Sox history to reach 1,000 hits before turning 27-years-old. He’s in great company with Tris Speaker and Bobby Doerr.

Speaker was born in April of 1888 and played his first major league game in September of 1928. He played in three World Series, was an MVP, had a Batting Title, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Speaker had a career .345 BA, .428 OBP, .500 SLG.

He spent 9 of his 22 years in the MLB with the Red Sox from age 19-27. During his time with the Red Sox, he accumulated 1,327 hits, 704 runs, 39 home runs, and 542 RBIs. He played his last game on August 30, 1928, at age 40.

Doerr was born in April of 1918 and played his first major league game in April of 1937. He was a 9x All-Star and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. He had a career .288 BA, .362 OBP, and .461 SLG.

Doerr was a 14-year Red Sox homer over which he accumulated 2,042 hits, 1,094 runs, 223 home runs, and 1,247 RBIs. He played his last game on September 7, 1951, at age 33.

Bogaerts pointed out that his career accomplishments have two things in common: they came against the Yankees and fell on his mother’s birthday. In his own words,

"“It was definitely a special day for me. My mom’s birthday,” Bogaerts said. “My first big league home run came against the Yankees on my mom’s birthday.”"

Since the Boston Red Sox were established in 1901, 2019 marks the 119 seasons for the team. Only 32 players in Red Sox history have reached 1,000 hits.

Cap Anson was the first player to reach 1,000 hits in 1881 as a member of the White Stockings on the National League side. At the time, there were only 8 teams on the NL including the Boston Red Caps. It also marked a year in which he won a Batting Title (leading with a .399 BA, .442 OBP, .952 OPS, 137 hits, 175 total bases, and 82 RBIs.

The first American League player to do so was Nap Lajoie in 1906 when he was playing as a Cleveland Nap. In 1906 he also led the AL with 48 hits. The youngest player to reach the feat was Ty Cobb at the age of 24.

The 1,000 hit club might not be THE most elite club, but the players that have reached it have experienced great success afterward in their careers. Xander is young and we have a lot to look forward to as Red Sox fans. He’s red hot and there’s still a guaranteed month left (hopefully more) for him to be able to add to his career season.