Takeaways from the first week of Red Sox Spring training

Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran’s improved approach

Last week, I wrote about the need for Jarren Duran to refine his approach this spring. The outfielder has always had the tools to excel at the big-league level, as evident by his 16 home runs and 16 stolen bases at Triple-A last season, but his approach at the plate got exposed upon his call-up last July. Duran fanned 40 times against just four walks, a ratio that got him demoted after just a month in Boston.

For Duran to win a spot on the Opening Day roster, he’s going to need to show marked improvements this spring. From his first at-bat, Duran has looked like a different player, beginning with a new look in the batter’s box in which he is holding his hands much lower than previous seasons. That adjustment appears to have been paying off, as he’s gotten off to a 4-for-9 start in his first five exhibition games. Most importantly, he’s shown a far better approach at the plate, already drawing three walks and punching out just one time.

With Jackie Bradley Jr. coming off a .497 OPS season and only two other left-handed hitters in the lineup, there is a spot to be won for Duran in the Red Sox starting outfield. If he continues to hit the ball like he has this week, expect there to be rumblings that Duran could be the everyday left fielder.

Red Sox 1B Bobby Dalbec looks primed for a monster season

One of the most underrated storylines for the 2021 Red Sox was the in-season rebound of Bobby Dalbec. After slashing just .185/.237/.358 through June 8 and appearing on the cusp of a demotion, Dalbec suddenly became one of the best first basemen in baseball, posting a .275/.336/.580 the rest of the way. His month of August particularly showed his massive potential, as he won AL Rookie of the Month by slashing .339/.431/774 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs.

Despite his remarkable turnaround, there are still gains to be made in Dalbec’s game. His full-season on-base percentage was below .300, and he led the team in strikeouts despite having just the seventh-most plate appearances. There is also plenty of room to grow against right handers (.212/.278.458). Dalbec’s monster power will always find him a place on an MLB roster, but making the aforementioned improvements could make him an All-Star caliber player.

If the first week of spring is any indication, Dalbec is starting to take steps towards being that player. He has shown a refined two-strike approach, cutting down on his big leg kick that he uses early in counts. The result has been a red-hot start this spring, totaling three extra-base hits in his first twelve at-bats. Two of those hits came against right-handed pitching, including a two-run shot off Twins righty Cole Sands on a fastball up in the zone, a pitch he struggled mightily with last year. It is obviously way too early to be making grand proclamations, but there is a lot to like about Dalbec’s early performance.

Red Sox prospect Ryan Fitzgerald is making his case for a roster spot

A lot can change in three years. Ryan Fitzgerald spent the 2019 season as a mediocre, 25-year-old second baseman in Single-A Salem, hitting just three home runs to go along with a modest .721 OPS. Fitzgerald’s professional career looked to be on the brink, and that seemed even more true when the pandemic wiped out his age 26 season.

Yet something strange happened in 2021. Fitzgerald suddenly started hitting for much more power, totaling nearly as many home runs (16) as he did in his first three seasons combined (18). He added that power without selling out or becoming impatient, as his strikeout rate and walk rate were virtually unchanged. Fitzgerald’s performance earned him a late-season promotion to Triple-A, where his numbers only improved (.262/.340/.571)

As if to silence anyone who thinks his performance has been a fluke, Fitzgerald has gotten off to a torrid start this spring. His seventh-inning blast on Saturday provided the only run in a 1-0 Red Sox victory, and he added a two-run homer in the Red Sox 5-0 victory over the Braves on Monday and a three-run shot in a 10-4 loss on Wednesday.

With a 28-man roster being implemented in April, Fitzgerald is establishing himself as a legitimate option for one of these spots, something that would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago.

Back end of the Red Sox rotation has been surprisingly sharp

With the acquisition of Trevor Story providing a clear upgrade at second base, the biggest question mark on the Red Sox roster is undoubtedly the starting rotation. All-Star Nathan Eovaldi appears the only safe bet among Red Sox starters, as he will be followed in the rotation by the inconsistent Nick Pivetta, the unproven Tanner Houck, the injury-prone and frequently mediocre Michael Wacha, and 42-year-old Rich Hill. Not exactly a group that inspires confidence.

If this first week of spring training is any indication, however, Red Sox fans have little to worry about. Pivetta and Wacha both threw three innings of shutout ball in their debuts, while Houck (2.2 IP, 1 ER) and Hill (2 IP, 0 ER) were solid as well. Combined, these pitchers allowed just one run over 10.2 innings, striking out nearly a batter an inning and walking just five.

It’s hard to put too much stock in these performances, especially in the first week of spring training when many teams are still starting minor leaguers. However, with the abbreviated exhibition schedule shortening the amount of time pitchers have to build up, it’s encouraging to see these starters looking sharp right out of the gate.

Red Sox lefty Darwinzon Hernandez is showing flashes of brilliance

There’s a lot of words that can describe how Red Sox fans feel when they see Darwinzon Hernandez run in from the bullpen. Reassurance is not one of them. Since his debut in 2019, the lefty has shown flashes of swing-and-miss stuff, but he has absolutely no idea where it’s going. His 7.0 BB/9 is one of the worst rates in baseball and makes him unusable in high-leverage situations despite striking out batters at an above-average clip.

If you’re wondering if the Red Sox had any confidence remaining with Hernandez, their offseason moves should give you a pretty clear answer. They added lefty relievers Matt Strahm and Jake Diekman to a bullpen that already included Austin Davis and Josh Taylor. With four other left-handed options now in the Red Sox bullpen, Hernandez’s lack of control could make him the odd man out.

Despite the new options, the door is still slightly open for Hernandez. That’s mainly due to the announcement that Josh Taylor will not be ready for the start of the regular season. Hernandez is going to get his looks this spring training, and the early results are promising. He made his spring training debut on Monday against the Braves and struck out the three batters he faced, all of whom spent significant time in the big leagues last year. There’s a long way to go, but if Hernandez keeps pitching like this, he may be able to squeeze onto the major league roster.