Xander Bogaerts
The Red Sox signed 16-year old Xander Bogaerts from Aruba in 2009. Within a few years, Bogaerts was part of a loaded crop of young shortstops. MLB.com’s Prospect Watch in 2013 included Bogaerts, Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez and Carlos Correa among their top 10 prospects!
Bogaerts got called up at the end of that 2013 season and ended up taking over the starting job at third base during Boston’s run to the World Series.
The position change was only temporary and Bogaerts returned to his natural shortstop position during the 2014 season. Shortstop had been a revolving door that the Red Sox struggled to fill since trading Nomar Garciaparra in 2004 but Bogaerts ended that line of futility by holding down the position since reclaiming it six years ago.
Bogaerts is a three-time Silver Slugger and two-time All-Star. He’s the fourth players in franchise history to record 500+ RBI before the age of 27.
Last season was a career year for Bogaerts. He hit .309 with a .939 OPS, 33 home runs, and 117 RBI. Bogaerts led the majors with 85 extra-base hits and finished fifth on the AL MVP ballot.
The Red Sox have Bogaerts locked up on a team-friendly extension through 2025. He’s already been one of the most productive international signings in franchise history and he’ll continue to add to that legacy.