Red Sox: Bobby Dalbec passes Ted Williams on rookie leaderboards

Bobby Dalbec passes Ted Williams in Red Sox rookie record books

Bobby Dalbec‘s second-half surge has been the most pleasant and astounding surprise of the Red Sox season.

According to Sox Notes, the stats account on Twitter run by Red Sox Media Relations, Dalbec’s home run on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning on the east coast) put him ahead of none other than Ted Williams. It took a young Teddy Ballgame 144 career games to hit his first 30 home runs; Bobby D reached the mark one game ahead. Only Tony Conigliaro and Walt Dropo reached the mark faster.

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1437998146773213186?s=20

Of course, Williams’ first 30 home runs all came in his 1939 rookie season, in which homered 31 times in 149 games and led all of MLB with 145 RBI. Rookie of the Year wouldn’t exist for another eight years, when Jackie Robinson won the award in its inaugural season in 1947.

Despite missing three full seasons while serving in the military, the Splendid Splinter hit 30 or more home runs eight times in his storied 19-year career. In 1942, he finished the season with an MLB-leading 36 home runs; when he returned from the war in 1946, he hit 38.

Bobby Dalbec’s late-season surge has been key to the Red Sox’ success

Dalbec’s overall stat line for the season is fine; he’s slashing .242/.297/.489, with a .786 OPS, 18 doubles, five triples, 22 home runs, and 72 RBI. He’s struck out 142 times in 120 games and only walked 24 times, so there’s definitely a plate discipline angle to work on.

But when you compare his pre and post-deadline numbers, it throws into sharp focus how drastic his turnaround is:

April 2-July 31 (85 games): .216/.260/.399, .659 OPS, 12 doubles, three triples, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 13 walks, 111 strikeouts

Since August 1 (35 games): .314/.391.735, 1.127 OPS, six doubles, two triples, 11 HR, 32 RBI, 11 walks, 31 strikeouts

The sample size is much smaller, but the signs point to a rookie finally finding his way. While it’s almost surely too late for Rookie of the Year, Dalbec is cementing himself as part of this team’s future.

Besides, whenever you’re being mentioned in the same sentence as Ted Williams, you’re basically walking on the baseball equivalent of holy ground. Breathing rarified air. Doing something right.