Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is on record saying that his team would win MLB's award for "good vibes," if it existed.
The Red Sox opened the season against the Seattle Mariners and the good vibes were on display. Boston has become known for its dugout shenanigans, from the laundry cart home run celebration to players cutting a rug.
The Red Sox broadcast showed multiple pregame dance circles by the bench. Players who were bold enough stepped in and showed off their signature moves.
In March 29th's iteration of the dance circle, Pablo Reyes picked up a bat and tapped it to a beat on the bench. Jarren Duran and his platinum mullet got low in the middle, following Reyes' lead. Brayan Bello followed his performance with a Weekend At Bernies-esque shoulder shimmy before the dance circle exploded in laughter.
*~vibes~* pic.twitter.com/aNiGXHqv65
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 30, 2024
The Red Sox are showing off their "good vibes" with dugout dances
Duran and Bello flashed some quality moves. The same can't be said for Masataka Yoshida, but it looked like he was giving his all, and that's what matters.
Yoshida hopped in the March 31 dance circle with another bat rhythm being played on the bench. He offered some Elvis-like hip gyrations and jump moves before the circle devolved in laughter again.
The Red Sox have been known for their dance moves in the past. Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. became famous across baseball for their outfield shimmies during Boston's historic 2018 campaign. The dugout dances may never carry the same memories for Sox fans as the "win, dance, repeat" celebration does, but the moves have a full season to take on a life of their own.
On NESN's broadcast of the game, dugout reporter Jahmai Webster explained that the Red Sox dance to keep baseball from feeling like a grind — keeping it light and having fun are the key to making it through a 162-game season.
Through language barriers and different levels of dance skills, the Red Sox's positive energy is palpable. Cora was right — if there was an award for good vibes, the Sox would win. But Yoshida probably doesn't have any dance contest wins in his future. Plenty of season to practice, though!