4 Red Sox players who will pleasantly surprise Boston fans in 2024
RHP Lucas Giolito
Signing Lucas Giolito has been the Red Sox's biggest move of the offseason so far, and since Spring Training is just days away, it looks like it's going to stay that way. But when Giolito signed, he made his intentions very clear: he wants to prove himself.
The Red Sox pursued Giolito aggressively during free agency because they saw his potential. His last two seasons have been unimpressive. In 2022 he pitched to a 4.90 ERA and in 2023 it only came in slightly better at 4.88. Giolito led the American League in starts last season, but he also led the league in home runs allowed after he let up a staggering 41 long balls.
But he has the potential to throw well, and he showed it with the White Sox. Giolito earned Cy Young votes in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Lucas Giolito posted a 2.92 ERA in 6 starts against the AL East last season.
— J.P. Long (@SoxNotes) January 4, 2024
37.0 IP, 12 ER, 37 K, 9 BB, 5 HR
vs. BOS – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H
at NYY – 6.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H
vs. TB – 6.2 IP, 2 R, 8 H
at TB – 7.0 IP, 4 R, 5 H
vs. TOR – 6.0 IP, 2 R, 4 H
at TOR – 5.1 IP, 3 R, 6 H
Giolito has acknowledged that he accepted the Sox's offer with the hopes of increasing his value in Boston. He admitted that he hopes to find his way back to free agency in better shape than he found himself in this go-round, and that new pitching coach Andrew Bailey and the Red Sox organization could help him do just that.
The right-hander has self-imposed "prove it" expectations on himself as well as the demands of Red Sox fans that he would surely like to meet. Hopefully, they'll be enough to get him back to his 2019 form.
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