What a weird year to be a Red Sox fan. It had the effect of both a transitional year and a big contract go-ahead year at the same time, and it felt like the two sensibilities were warring with each other. Two of the biggest contracted players on the team played little to no part in the overall outcome of the season, and it was left to a lot of young players to pick up the slack. Many of them actually did well, and will play into next season favorably. Others aren't there yet.
Connor Wong may be the biggest revelation. The Sox were still looking for a permanent catching option after losing Christian Vazquez, and went in with the platoon of Reese McGuire and Jorge Alfaro, neither of which were any good defensively. Thankfully, Wong is a terrific defensive catcher, and had an 11 dWAR figure, winning the position easily. Despite only hitting .235 with 36 RBIs and 9 homers, Wong was 7th in WAR on the team.
2024 Prediction: Like Vazquez before him, he figures out the hitting end and keeps the starting position.
Triston Casas, like Jarren Duran, took a while to blossom in the MLB but broke big this year, and made 1st base her own. Duran hit 24 home runs, 2nd on the team, and 65 RBIs, 4th on the team. I saw Casas in Spring Training and even then he didn't look too comfortable, but he really came into his own during the second half, and that reassured Sox fans quite a bit going forward.
2024 Prediction: First 30-homer season, and closer to the heart of the lineup.
After four straight injury-plagued seasons, Chris Sale was prime for a comeback, and with the Sox putting a lot on him as one of the few veterans remaining in the rotation, Sale did his best to reignite the hype. I saw Sale start in March, and he looked alright, even if it's clearly not 2014 anymore. Sale was limited to 20 starts, but he did post his best numbers in years, with a 4.30 ERA and 125 Ks, as well as a 1.130 WHIP. Clearly his best stuff is still there, but his overthrowing in his first decade of play has made his arm a lot less trustworthy than it used to be.
2024 Prediction: Finishes that contract with a whimper rather than a roar.
Speaking of snakebitten contracts, Trevor Story's injury kept him out until August, meaning for the first time in about a decade, the Sox had no leads on a shortstop. Luckily, Story's return was timed with Enrique Hernandez's trade to LA, and Story got 43 games to make up for lost time. He only hit .203, yet his 10 steals were still the second-most on the team, and he still roped in 14 RBIs and 3 homers.
2024 Prediction: Here, folks, finally, Boston will see peak Story. I just hope it's not too late.
And then in the last month of the season, the Sox brought up two interesting young rookies. Ceddanne Rafaela, an OF-2B type from Curacao, got up to some interesting contact business in Boston, hitting 20 hits in 28 games, with 5 RBIs and 2 homers. I'm seeing a potential utility role for Rafaela, but there is a chance he'll prove himself somewhere specific.
2024 Prediction: Really cool second half bench numbers.
Then the Sox brought up Wilyer Abreu, a high-prized outfield prospect, and Abreu got off to a wild start in the majors, hitting .316 with 14 RBIs in 28 games. Immediately, Abreu got Sox fans' attention, and could be a major piece of the action going forward if those numbers continue.
2024 Prediction: Will get a surprising amount of Rookie of the Year votes before he mellows into an Adolis Garcia-esque power career.
Coming Tomorrow- I have a lot of Cincinnati Reds left, guys..
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