The rise of Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo is upon us
When the Boston Red Sox acquired Alex Verdugo in the infamous Mookie Betts trade, the fans immediately began to pass judgment on the young outfielder. While doing this, very few people actually looked at the potential that he has.
Sure, Verdugo is not Betts, and barring a huge increase in productivity, he never will be. However, what can’t be overlooked is the fact that the 25-year-old has the potential to do some serious damage.
In the disastrous 2020 season, Verdugo was the best player on the team, which no one seems to talk about. In 53 games, he was able to slash .308/.367/.478 with six homeruns and 16 RBIs. His success also led him to a twelfth-place finish in AL MVP voting.
During the 2021 season, he continued to show prowess at the plate slashing .289/.351/.426. This success is something that Red Sox fans should be incredibly excited for, considering this was his first full season. The most games he played prior to this season was in 2019 when he played 109 games for the Dodgers.
His impact on the team is so much more than what happens on the field; he is the life of the Red Sox clubhouse. He is what will make the Red Sox so exciting to watch in 2022. It is no secret that when there is life in the clubhouse, success comes with it. All four of the Red Sox championships since the turn of the century were based around the life in the clubhouse.
The way that he embraces Boston as his home is something that radiates around the fanbase. Even referring to himself as “your cousin from Boston!”
What seems to be the overarching issue that everyone has is that he isn’t jacking as many home runs as what was projected when he was traded here. What needs to be emphasized is that he has just got the opportunity to find his swing. With the Dodgers he rarely got an opportunity and 2020 was a confusing season for everyone. 2021 was the first opportunity for him to find his rhythm.
According to StatCast, from 2020 to 2021, Verdugo managed to increase his hard hit percentage by 10 points from 33.3% to 43.3%. His barrel percentage also went from 6.4% to 7.3%. Since his first big league action in 2017, his exit velocity has gone from 81.8 to 90. With the majority of his hitting metrics growing at the steady rate it is now, his output in 2022 could warrant an All-Star caliber season.
One thought to ponder is that Verdugo doesn’t need to be a home run hitter. He was in the 90th percentile for expected batting average in 2021. Maybe fans just need to look at Verdugo through a different lens; a guy who will hit for average while smacking singles and doubles. Let’s be real, double celebrations are the best!
Patience is a virtue that New England fans have a hard time understanding, but with Verdugo, that patience will be well worth it if he continues to trend upwards in the 2022 season; the power is there, he just needs to harness it; and if he doesn’t find the power, expect him to produce in other ways.