Rob Refsnyder earning playing time in deep Red Sox outfield

The Red Sox got it done in Cleveland in the first of three against the Guardians with a 5-4 win. Boston has been struggling to win games, but that has not stopped Rob Refsnyder's production. Not included in the starting lineup, but came in and got the go-ahead knock in the eighth inning. The hit extends his hit streak to eight games and Refsnyder continues to deliver for Boston. Injuries have plagued the roster, and players are getting chances to make a name for themselves. Refsnyder has been a solid outfield option for the Red Sox this year.

Refsnyder came to the Red Sox from the Minnesota Twins after spending a single season in the Twin Cities. The outfielder took advantage of his chances in a weak Boston squad that finished last in the AL East. In his first season with Boston, Refsnyder played in 57 games, hitting .307 at the plate. However, the outlook was murky for Refsnyder when the Red Sox signed Adam Duvall and Masataka Yoshida. Additionally, Jarren Duran has impressed the Red Sox coaching staff, but this did not stop Refsnyder from continuing his sound play.

Rob Refsnyder signs contract extension with Red Sox

As a result of Refsnyder's performance on the field, Boston signed him to a one-year contract extension worth $2 million, including a club option for 2025. The Red Sox currently have a deep outfield group that gets even deeper once Trevor Stroy returns from injury and Kiké Hernandez moves back into centerfield. Chaim Bloom knowing the situation decided to put his faith in Refsnyder.

The season has gotten away from Boston dropping five games during the latest homestand and sitting in last place in the AL East. Decisions on players' futures with the franchise are being made daily, and Refsnyder's great play has made him valuable to the team. The main example of this was shown when the Boston Red Sox DFA'd Raimel Tapia a few days ago.

Red Sox OF Rob Refsnyder destroys left handed pitchers

Over the past two seasons, it has been evident that Refsnyder is sensational against lefties. In 2023 Refsnyder has played in 36 games and is hitting .364 off of left-handed pitching with an On-Base Percentage of .478. The numbers a slightly better than last season, where in twice the sample size, Refsnyder hit .359 with a .411 OBP. Due to his incredible hitting off of Southpaws, Refsnyder has earned the title of "Lefty Killer."

The power has yet to arrive for Refsnyder in 2023 with his one home run. However, the outfielder is coming off a month where he hit .400 with four doubles. One thing that Refsnyder has carried over into June is his eight-game hitting streak. In the first game against the Cleveland Guardians, Refsnyder came in as a pinch hitter and went 1-for-2 with an RBI single, pushing his average to .291. Even with Refsnyder's troubles with RHP, he was able to get the job done with the bases loaded with a single off of Nick Sandlin.

How will Adam Duvall's reinstatement affect Rob Refsnyder's playing time?

The Red Sox are quickly healing up from multiple injuries to the team. Adam Duvall and Yu Chang are set to return from injury, and both affect Refsnyder depending on his production. Big decisions lie ahead for manager Alex Cora on who to play in the outfield once the roster fills out. It will get crowded fast, and the best thing Refsnyder can do is keep performing.

Duvall was swinging the bat well before getting injured and is picking up where he left off. The Red Sox have an All-Star caliber player in Masataka Yoshida, a surprising young talent in Jarren Duran, and Alex Verdugo. In addition, Kiké Hernandez will realistically move back to center as the season progresses, providing more competition for game time. Production will determine who plays and who does not play for the foreseeable future, and right now, Refsnyder is making a strong case for himself to be in the lineup.

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