Having lost four straight and facing the prospect of being without leadoff hitter Jarren Duran, the Boston Red Sox desperately needed a win to keep themselves alive in the playoff hunt during one of the most difficult stretches of the season.
Enter: Rob Refsnyder. The veteran outfielder clubbed a walk-off single in the 10th inning against the Texas Rangers Monday, snapping Boston's four-game losing streak and trimming its deficit to the Kansas City Royals in the American League Wild Card race to two games (one in the loss column).
And that's not all; Refsnyder was also a key player in Monday's win off the field, delivering an inspiring pep talk to his teammates prior to the game and encouraging them to leverage their youthful energy and play without fear of failure.
“He understands where we’re at as a team and obviously with the day today he felt like he needed to tell them you can breathe, you can play with joy,” manager Alex Cora said (via Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald). “Don’t be afraid to mess up, if you get thrown out you get thrown out, let’s play aggressively.”
Red Sox sticking with Rob Refsnyder in 2023 has been instrumental for 2024 playoff run
The Red Sox signed Refsnyder to a one-year contract extension through the 2024 season with a club option for 2025. The veteran outfielder is earning a base salary of $1.85 million this season, and the option for next season is worth $2 million.
Since his arrival in 2022, Refsnyder has become one of the Red Sox's most respected veteran leaders. He thrives in his role as a lefty hitter off the bench, as evidenced by his .283/.379/.427 slash line through his three seasons with Boston.
Refsnyder plays an unglamorous role, but an important one. A right-handed hitter who can consistently hit left-handed pitchers, he is steady on defense and can provide off days for the starting outfielders. He isn't known for having a flashy highlight reel, but he is a consummate pro who plays heads-down baseball and does exactly what's asked of him. Such is the life of a career bench player, after all.
Ever humble, Refsnyder is slashing an impressive .300/.388/.481 through 70 games this season but prefers to let his body of work speak for itself (an example Duran would be wise to follow). Game-winning hits aside, his leadership role has become even more pronounced of late, making him even more invaluable as the Red Sox continue their quest for a playoff berth.
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