BoSox Injection
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Position breakdown of how Red Sox stack up against AL East competition

By Daniel Fox

BOSTON, MA - JULY 25: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox slides home safely ahead of the tag by catcher Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees to score the go ahead run during the eighth inning of Bostons 5-4 win at Fenway Park on July 25, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 25: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox slides home safely ahead of the tag by catcher Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees to score the go ahead run during the eighth inning of Bostons 5-4 win at Fenway Park on July 25, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /
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Red Sox 1B Bobby Dalbec
SEATTLE – SEPTEMBER 14: Bobby Dalbec #29 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 14, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The Red Sox defeated the Mariners 8-4. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Red Sox first baseman vs the AL East

  • Vlad Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (10)
  • Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles (7)
  • Luke Voit, Yankees (5)
  • Bobby Dalbec, Red Sox (3)
  • Ji-Man Choi, Rays (1)

Much like catcher, there is a clear number one first baseman in the AL East. Vlad Guerrero Jr. put together an MVP-caliber campaign in 2021, leading the league in home runs (48), on-base percentage (.401), slugging (.601), and OPS (1.002). As he enters his age 23 season, there appears to be no limit to what he can do.

Ryan Mountcastle similarly enjoyed a breakout season in 2021. He homered 33 times and drove in 89 runs, both easily setting career highs in just his second season in the big leagues. The next step for Mountcastle will be being more selective at the plate: He walked just 41 times against 161 strikeouts.

While Mountcastle and Guerrero enjoyed successful campaigns last year, Luke Voit struggled through injuries and had a down season. Injuries limited him to just 68 games, and he saw his OPS drop 50 points. Still, Voit is just two years removed from leading the league in home runs, and his walk rate actually improved in 2021, so he gets the benefit of the doubt.

If this list were based solely on last season’s second half, Bobby Dalbec would be second on this list behind Vlad Guerrero Jr. From June 10 on, Dalbec slashed .276/.336/.580 with 19 home runs and 54 RBIs. He still needs to show he can produce over a full season, but Dalbec is a prime breakout candidate entering 2022.

Rounding out the top five is left-handed slugger Ji-Man Choi. The Rays use a lot of different players at the cold corner, but as the strong side of a platoon, Choi is likely to receive the most at-bats. There is not much exciting about his profile: He’ll hit some home runs, he’ll draw some walks, and that’s about it.

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