The first decade of Xander Bogaerts’ big-league career has been one bucket-list moment after another.
Two World Series rings, four Silver Slugger awards (the fifth-most by an MLB shortstop and fourth-most in franchise history), four All-Star Games, four consecutive seasons with MVP votes, the most games played by a shortstop in franchise history, the list goes on and on.
And all before turning 30.
It feels like yesterday that he was a 21-year-old rookie hitting doubles in the 2013 postseason, but the fan-favorite shortstop is about to celebrate his 30th birthday. He’s already accomplished more in the first ten seasons of his career than most players ever will, but he isn’t slowing down. As if spurred by the sands of time, he’s spent the summer vigorously adding to his resumé before his October 1 birthday. Or, as his manager Alex Cora put it this weekend:
"“Every week we get to talk about something great about him.”"
He’s not exaggerating, either.
On Sunday, Bogaerts added another notch to his belt, when he collected his 1,400th hit. In doing so, he joined Yastrzemski (1,480), Bobby Doerr (1,437), and Jim Rice (1,429) as the only Boston Red Sox players with 1,400 hits before their 30th birthday.
Xander making 1,400 count. pic.twitter.com/ifcG3XBkVm
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 18, 2022
Xander Bogaerts’s 1,400th career hit is one of many Red Sox franchise records he’s tied or broken in 2022
Bogaerts’ August was a slew of tying or breaking franchise records. On the 3rd, he became the ninth Sox player to hit 150 home runs before turning 30. On the 6th, the twentieth 4-hit game of his career tied Ted Williams for fifth-most before turning 30. On the 11th, he became the second player in franchise history to hit 300 doubles before turning 30 (and only the 11th Sox player of any age). If he collects five more before his birthday, he’ll break Carl Yastrzemski’s record. Bogaerts’ 300th double also made him the 25th player in MLB history with 150 home runs and 300 doubles, and only the second shortstop and second Red Sox player (after Yaz) to accumulate such an abundance of extra-base hits.
His grand slam on the last day of August was the sixth of his career, setting a new franchise record for shortstop slams. So far in September, he’s tied and then knocked George Scott out of 16th place on the franchise’s all-time home runs list.
Imagine how many more he can do if the Red Sox don’t let him leave this offseason.
When the season ends in a few weeks, the passage of time will dull the sting of a last-place finish, an avalanche of injuries, and a losing record.
Bogaerts’ achievements will remain.
Hopefully, he will, too.
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