When Netflix announced it would profile the Boston Red Sox's 2024 season as its first-ever MLB docuseries, fans across MLB, including Red Sox Nation, questioned the choice.
Months later, at the halfway point of the campaign, it may be time to eat our words.
Boston's season has been a rollercoaster of emotions. From a disappointing offseason, to an injury-plagued April and May, to a season-best record at the All-Star break, the Red Sox have defied almost every expectation. But it took months of work to get to this point.
Jarren Duran's story is a perfect analogy for Boston's success, and he's been a huge part of it himself. Rumors flew around Duran's future with the Sox during the offseason — he was on the trade block and other teams were interested in an exchange involving the outfielder. But he's making a case for American League MVP that's only getting stronger.
Duran has started every one of Boston's 95 games and he's been a beacon of consistency on both sides of the ball. He's one of the best baserunners and defenders in the league this season, and his offense only seems to be getting better. His humble nature and tireless work ethic have Red Sox Nation rooting for him every day, and his heroics at the All-Star Game earned him thousands of new fans.
The Red Sox's pitching has also become an unexpected success story. Boston's new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow brought in Andrew Bailey to transform its existing pitching infrastructure and he's done exactly that. Tanner Houck earned his first All-Star nod and is in the running for the AL Cy Young award. Kutter Crawford and Nick Pivetta have slipped up on occasion, but the two hurlers have tossed their fair share of gems under Bailey's instruction.
Kick down the damn door. pic.twitter.com/6kOIsndsG7
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 10, 2024
Boston's rookies have also had transformative seasons. Ceddanne Rafaela struggled at the plate in the early going. He's played exceptional defense all year, but he was slashing just .198/.226/.345 on May 4. His offensive numbers have been on a steady incline since — he's now batting .246/.272/.419 — and he's played his way into being a front-runner in the American League Rookie of the Year conversation.
David Hamilton had the opposite transition. His offense started slow and has picked up significantly, but his defense really needed work. In April, Red Sox Nation held its collective breath each time a ball was hit in Hamilton's direction in the middle infield. Now, Hamilton is more reliable in all facets of his game, and it shows in his increased playing time.
Wilyer Abreu and the rest of Boston's outfield have been offensively and defensively reliable for most of the season. Their collective defensive versatility has allowed Alex Cora to shuffle the lineup as he sees fit, and he regularly puts his squad in the best position to win close games.
Veteran Rafael Devers has undergone a transformation of his own in all aspects of his game — it's resulted in career-best numbers for the third baseman. Devers is slugging homers at a faster pace than he ever has before, taking more walks and playing the best defense of his eight-year MLB career.
The Red Sox's 2024 Netflix docuseries is shaping up to be a classic
He's also emerging as a leader in the clubhouse, although he doesn't love the moniker. On an episode of NESN's "310 to Left" podcast, Devers said he wants to be a positive influence on Boston's young players and help them find their confidence in the big leagues. According to Cora, it's working.
Boston's entire roster has performed well during its June and July hot streak. Dominic Smith has turned into a valuable addition; Rob Refsnyder and Connor Wong are posting the best seasons of their lives; Tyler O'Neill's rebounded in a big way; and the once-struggling Masataka Yoshida propelled the Sox to their biggest win of the year against the Yankees.
The Red Sox heated up right at the right time. Hours before the All-Star break, Breslow all but confirmed Boston would be buyers at the trade deadline. With potential reinforcements on the way, the Red Sox are primed to continue their Cinderella story of a season.
A lot has changed for Boston since the early months of the season. The error-plagued infield has tightened up and the bats have taken off, and they've done it all without star players like Triston Casas and Trevor Story. Realize how we haven't mentioned Vaughn Grissom at all, too?
But Casas' return is coming, and the Red Sox only expect to get stronger. The team has experienced the lowest of lows and the highest of highs just weeks apart. The early-season Red Sox found the most brutal ways to lose, but they've grown into a team that can win close games and beat some of the best teams in the league.
The changes that the Red Sox have pulled off in the first half of the season have been massive and key to their recent success. As they go into the second half of the 2024 slate on a high note, a season-best 11 games over .500 and banging on the door to a playoff spot, the team has won over the hearts of Sox fans everywhere.
It's time to admit that the Red Sox are good. The once-dreaded Netflix docuseries could end up a classic if Boston stays hot and makes the right moves at the trade deadline.