When you woke up this morning, did you know that it was Kiké Hernández Day?
For hours, the popular Red Sox super-utility man has been in the thick of things. Sox players have been largely silent on social media this offseason, at least about team-related issues. But Hernández entered the fray in a big way on Wednesday.
First, he celebrated his former Dodgers teammate, Kenley Jansen, becoming his Red Sox teammate.
KENLEYYYSSSSSSS!!!!! @kenleyjansen74
— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) December 7, 2022
Hernández and Jansen overlapped on the Dodgers from 2015-20, winning a ring together in Hernández’s final season in LA. Connecting the dots, it’s safe to say the super-utility star may have played a part in getting the veteran closer to Boston. On Monday, Chaim Bloom and Alex Cora met with members of the media at Winter Meetings and revealed that Hernández and Trevor Story have been doing some recruiting.
2013 World Series champion Will Middlebrooks also weighed in on the signing and mentioned the Xander Bogaerts connection:
Love the shape of the Red Sox bullpen. Joely Rodriguez, Chris Martin, and now a CLOSER in Kenley Jansen. 79 saves in the last two seasons, and he’s a winner. You know who’s really good friends with Kenley? Xander Bogaerts. Let’s go! Get it done. He’s our captain.
— Will Middlebrooks (@middlebrooks) December 7, 2022
Jansen and Bogaerts grew up on neighboring islands. Jansen hails from Curaçao and Bogaerts was just 67 miles away in Aruba. The closer speaks five languages: English, Spanish, French, Dutch, and Papiamento; the shortstop shares all but French.
Kiké Hernández riles Red Sox fans up with Xander Bogaerts tweet amidst reunion reports
Speaking of Bogaerts, Hernández riled fans up by asking for an update on his pal. Or maybe he’s suggesting there will be one soon. Mocking Jon Heyman’s “Arson Judge” flub was the cherry on top:
Any news on Yonder Bogaerts? Asking for a friend..
— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) December 7, 2022
A minute later, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe took things up a notch:
Momentum between the Red Sox and Xander Bogaerts according to a source.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) December 7, 2022
One Red Sox person, asked by someone today whether the Sox would re-sign Bogaerts, answered without hesitation: “Yes.”
— Sean McAdam (@Sean_McAdam) December 7, 2022
The #RedSox increased their offer for Xander Bogaerts. The talks have intensified. Looks like they could come to an agreement.
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) December 7, 2022
With tweets like these, how is anyone supposed to focus on anything else?
Red Sox make huge splash by signing veteran closer Kenley Jansen
The Red Sox have made their first big signing, adding veteran closer Kenley Jansen, who led the National League in saves and games finished in 2022.