Boston Red Sox: Xander Bogaerts deserves more attention
It sounds strange to say that Xander Bogaerts does not get the attention he deserves. He is a member of the Boston Red Sox after all, and it seems as though their players are hyped to the point of nausea. That has not been the case with Bogaerts, as he has slipped under the radar.
All one has to do is look at the debate of who is the top shortstop in baseball today. There will be those who argue for Francisco Lindor, or Trevor Story, or Corey Seager, or Trea Turner. Fernando Tatis Jr. may even get some love despite his relative inexperience at the major league level. However, Bogaerts tends to be forgotten.
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Bogaerts has had a solid career thus far. A two time All Star, he has won three Silver Slugger awards and finished fifth in the 2019 AL MVP balloting. He has posted a .291/.352/.456 batting line in 4238 plate appearances, hitting 121 homers and 243 doubles while stealing 62 bases.
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As impressive as his performance has been over the course of his career, Bogaerts has dominated the shortstop position this year. He leads all major league shortstops in fWAR, batting average, on base percentage, and slugging. And yet, he has not received quite the attention one would have expected.
It may well be a matter of timing. Bogaerts had been overshadowed through most of his career by the likes of Mookie Betts and other superstars in Boston. Last season was one of the better performances of his career, but it happened in a strike shortened season and the Red Sox were awful.
Maybe this will be the year Bogaerts will get the due he deserves. The Red Sox are essentially his team now, as he is one of the players that the franchise is building around. Should he continue his stellar play this season, and the Red Sox continue to win, another All Star berth will be on the table and he could get serious consideration as the AL MVP. Maybe then he will start getting the recognition he deserves.
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Xander Bogaerts has been one of the better shortstops in the game for some time. Maybe this will be the year the Boston Red Sox infielder gets his due.