When the Boston Red Sox first started struggling about two months ago, if you asked fans which player would be front and center in their offensive breakout, Isiah Kiner-Falefa would almost certainly be one of the least common answers. But the journeyman has been raking.
From the middle of May to the start of June, Kiner-Falefa has been the Red Sox's biggest offensive weapon. He's slashing .282/.344/.353 on the season (36 games) and .364/.429/.500 in his last 15 games. Kiner-Falefa, who carried a first percentile xSLG (.304) last season, already has a homer this year, one of Boston's 46 so far (as of June 5).
On June 2, along with his offensive explosion, Kiner-Falefa hinted in a postgame presser that the Red Sox's hideous 9-20 record at Fenway Park could be due to distractions at home that aren't present on the road. His comment didn't include any information on what the issues might be, but fans have taken off running with speculation.
Whether Kiner-Falefa's statement leads to a change in Boston's home performance or not, taking the issue public (vaguely and responsibly) is a clear veteran move. The utility man has been on five teams over his nine years in the big leagues, and as one of the oldest players in the Sox's clubhouse, he's stepped into a role the team is sorely missing.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa is filling the veteran role the Red Sox have desperately needed
The Red Sox lost their veteran presence when they failed to reunite with Alex Bregman over the offseason. The team has tried to bill Garrett Crochet, Trevor Story and Jarren Duran as leaders, but the Story has been unable to deliver on the field long-term and the latter doesn't exactly have a personality for leadership (like when he refused to speak after Alex Cora was fired, effectively sending reporters to the then 21-year-old Roman Anthony for answers). Story and Crochet are both hurt, Kiner-Falefa saw the leadership vacancy, and took it.
Since his hot streak began, Kiner-Falefa has also issued some vulnerable quotes about fighting for every at-bat he gets. The Red Sox are largely a young team with long careers ahead of them, but Kiner-Falefa came within sight of a World Series championship last year. Given his age and his style of play, he may not have many more tries to reach the postseason, and the Red Sox were supposed to be a frontrunner in the American League. Instead, they're battling internal dysfunction at home, where they're supposed to have an advantage.
It's surprising to see Kiner-Falefa, a last-minute utility signing, step up to be the adult in the room, on the field and off. Maybe Kiner-Falefa's comments will lead to some accountability for the Red Sox or whoever is creating distractions in the clubhouse. Fans will be clamoring for answers as to what he was talking about until the Red Sox give them something more entertaining to watch.