The Boston Red Sox's playoff dreams slowly evaporated with the destruction of the bullpen. Still, with the season over, it is time for a phoenix moment. In this instance, it is not a bird but a 10th player award.
Since its introduction in 1975, the award has occasionally surfaced. The original intent was to recognize a player who went above and beyond expectations, with the emphasis on someone other than the starting nine. Pitchers were included, as noted on this list of award winners, but often, the award's intent was ignored, and a star was given the honor.
Fred Lynn won the first one and was also the American League MVP that year. This would be like honoring Rafael Devers for a 2024 award. Keeping that in mind, we'll narrow it down to expectations versus final results.
Creating a '10th Player Award' for the 2024 Boston Red Sox
David Hamilton - a speed merchant infielder
David Hamilton was part of the swap with the Brewers that sent slugger Hunter Renfroe packing to Suds Town. Hamilton surfaced briefly in 2023, and the lefty hit just .121 then. But Hamilton's second big league season is pure 10th-player material based on expectations of his ability and previous performance.
Trevor Story and Vaughn Grissom created an opportunity, and Hamilton hit the roster lottery. His game is speed, and in 2024, he blazed with 33 steals in 98 games. That average of 2023 was a mirage as Hamilton finished with a .248 average and some pop with eight home runs.
The downside of Hamilton's offense is lefty pitching. Manager Alex Cora protected the 26-year-old, spotting him to just 50 plate appearances against portsiders and a .208 average. Hamilton — who finished 2024 on the IL — had a 2.6 bWAR, and then came his defense.
Defensively, Hamilton had split infield duty with 266.2 innings at second base, resulting in +8 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +3 on Outs Above Average (OOA). At short, a flip side in 433 innings produced a -3 DRS and -3 OAA. With Story back and Ceddanne Rafaela pulling innings at short, Hamilton becomes an insurance policy for 2025. As far as the 10th player, Hamilton deserves attention based on his performance.
Rob Refsnyder - A well-traveled, gritty veteran
Rob Refsnyder only improved in 2024 compared to 2023. Refsnyder has logged some serious baseball air miles in MLB time with the Yankees, Texas, Tampa Bay, Toronto, and Minnesota. He also posted minor league stints with Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Arizona.
Boston signed Refsnyder after the 2021 season with minimal noise from Sox. The righty hit .248 in 89 games in 2023 and was rewarded with a one-year deal for 2024. As signings go, this one is five stars.
In 2024, the 33-year-old slashed .283/.359/.471 with 11 homers and 40 RBI in 93 games with a 129 OPS+ before a wrist injury ended his season. Refsnyder was deemed forgettable against right-handed pitching but switched that up in 2024, hitting .267 against righties. Refsnyder got more PAs against right-handers than left-handers.
Refsnyder is no gazelle in the outfield and certainly no bindlestiff. Playing all three positions in 2024, Refsnyder was -4 DRS and -3 OAA. Package Refsnyder's offense and defense and you have a solid fourth outfielder and a fiscal bargain. If this were 2023, Refsnyder would be the winner.
Romy González - a waiver wire surprise
On Jan. 31, the Red Sox went to the waiver wire and signed right-hand hitting Romy González, who had been cut adrift by the dreadful White Sox. González had three seasons or parts of three seasons with the Pale Hose, slashing .222/.239/.361, a blaring indication of why the infielder got dumped.
Worcester agreed with González, who slashed .373/.421/.667, powdered three home runs and 17 RBI in Worm Town. With the Red Sox IL expanding like the stomachs of the customer base at the Golden Corral, the soon-to-be 28-year-old was sent eastbound on the Mass Pike.
González has displayed the quality the Red Sox have embraced in Brock Holt and, for an older crowd, Billy Goodman — versatility. González has appeared in all infield and outfield positions and taken a swing at DH. Granted, there are no gold gloves in his future, but there are no iron gloves.
Bullpen candidates
The bullpen is shredded, like a tender pork roast at a BBQ joint, but there were some bright spots. Zack Kelly finished at 6-3 over 56.2 innings. Kelly pitched to a 3.97 ERA/4.84 FIP. The hard-throwing right-hander (96.5v) didn't over or underachieve.
Right-hander Cooper Criswell, like Kelly, finished 2024 on the IL and made 18 starts with noted inconsistency. Criswell went 6-5 with a 4.08 ERA/4.37 FIP. Criswell's main plus is a 2.8 BB% — a "meh" 2024.
Greg Weissert arrived from the Yankees as part of the deal that sent Alex Verdugo into pinstripes —another right-hander whose function was the bullpen and did a nice job. The righty topped the beleaguered staff in appearances.
Brennan Bernardino did precisely what was expected. The lefty tossed 51 innings, going 4-3 with a 4.06 ERA /4.15 FIP in 57 appearances. This was a slight slippage over Bernardino's 2023 numbers.
Justin Slaten came a circle route to Boston via the Rangers and the Mets. The 26-year-old right-hander is fully immersed in the "pleasant surprise" category. Slaten brings four pitches to the bump with a heater that touches the high 90s. The real stand out is a 4.1 BB% and 26.4 K%. Slaten could be the closer in 2025 and would be an ideal choice for the 10th-player award. This year, it will go to the last pick.
And the winner is... Kutter Crawford
In the previous two seasons, right-hander Kutter Crawford did nothing to impress, and naysayers will probably say the same about the 28-year-old this season. Crawford took the ball for 33 starts and led the American League starters in losses with 16. But a baseball Nostradamus would not have been as bold to predict Crawford would lead the staff in starts, innings pitched, and WHIP; but the quality of those starts?
Crawford's last start of 2024 was Bad Kutter, with six earned runs over 4.1 innings. The previous start was Good Kutter, with three earned runs in 7.1 innings. The lad was consistent with inconsistency — a "gamer" like Nick Pivetta.
Crawford has four basic pitches and will not blow batters away with a 92.6v, but he did produce a 23.1 K% and a relatively low 6.7 BB%, which caused some issues with the long ball and a 1.67 HR/9. For comparison, Pivetta was 1.74, and Tanner Houck a league-best 0.50 (qualified). Crawford had a league average of 12.1% for swing-and-miss folks.
In peer comparison, Crawford is in the middle of the statistical scrum among American League starters. Crawford is a bottom-of-the-rotation starter who moved up in the rotation pecking order based on need — a need he provided admirably, and despite my admiration for Slaten and Refsnyder, Crawford is the 10th player.
Crawford's future is murky, with Lucas Giolito expected back and trade rumors afloat to shore up pitching. Pivetta is a free agent who will command a three-year deal with unknown money. Crawford can fill that role.