Resurgence of the Red Sox outfield: How Alex Verdugo, Masataka Yoshida, and Jarren Duran are powering Boston’s success
Masataka Yoshida
2023 stats: 40 G, .308/.384/.494 (139 wRC+), -2 OAA, -1.7 BsR, 0.8 fWAR
One of the reasons the Red Sox moved Verdugo from left field to right field was that they signed Masataka Yoshida for $90 million over five years. Yoshida, who excelled in Japan, was brought in as the Red Sox’s marquee free agent, which the public didn’t react to well — particularly because the team opted not to make an effort to keep franchise icon Xander Bogaerts.
In addition to fans, even some scouts weren’t fond of the signing, particularly those who spoke with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. “In total, I spoke to ten sources in the aftermath of the signing and they all had a similar breakdown,” McDaniel said. “They all had some level of appreciation for the player, but thought the Red Sox overpaid by a hefty margin.”
During the World Baseball Classic, while representing Japan, Yoshida showed why the Red Sox gave him the loftiest guarantee of any position player making the jump from Nippon Professional Baseball to the majors, being named to the WBC All-Tournament team and helping Japan win the tournament.
Despite a slow start, Yoshida has been one of the best offensive outfielders in MLB. Among 65 qualified outfielders, Yoshida’s 139 wRC+ (which is one point lower than Mike Trout’s) is the 12th-best.
Although Yoshida has struggled defensively and on the bases to start his major league career, his bat makes him one of the most valuable hitters in Boston’s lineup.
Jarren Duran
2023 stats: 32 G, .321/.376/.518 (140 wRC+), 2 OAA, 1.4 BsR, 1.3 fWAR
Jarren Duran was one of Boston’s best prospects before he graduated from prospect status, but he struggled immensely in his first two Major League seasons. In 91 games between 2021 and 2022, Duran hit .219/.269/.354 (68 wRC+) en route to accumulating -0.8 fWAR.
Duran didn’t make Boston’s Opening Day roster, but he was called up halfway through April. Since getting called up, Duran has been the everyday center fielder for the Red Sox, and he’s done everything to make sure it stays that way.
Hitting .321/.376/.518 (140 wRC+), Duran is having an exceptional offensive season. The driving forces behind Duran’s offensive breakout have been his improved plate discipline and batted ball data.
From 2021-2022 to 2023, Duran’s K% is down 5.1%, BB% is up 1.8%, Barrel% is up 1.8% and Hard Hit% is up 7.0%. While it’s been a small 125 plate appearance sample size and his .418 BABIP suggests he’s due for regression, Duran’s offense is very encouraging and has been much needed for the Red Sox.
Even if Duran regresses offensively, he can still be a valuable piece for the Red Sox. Duran has elite speed, as his sprint speed ranks in the 93rd percentile. With the help of his speed, Duran’s 1.4 BsR and 2 OAA are both already career highs, and they have the potential to be elite marks over a full season if Duran keeps up his current pace on the bases and in the outfield.
Adam Duvall, Rob Refsnyder and Raimel Tapia
In the first week of 2023, Adam Duvall was as good as any player in the majors. Duvall was so good that despite only playing in eight games, he accumulated 1.1 fWAR – nearly as valuable as the entire Red Sox outfield was in 2022. However, Duvall broke his wrist, and he has been out since early April. Duvall is expected to rejoin the team in June.
In only 57 games in 2022, Rob Refsnyder’s 1.3 fWAR led all Red Sox outfielders. In 2023, Refsnyder has transitioned to a bench role, but his bat has been valuable as he currently has a 117 wRC+.
In the offseason, the Red Sox signed Raimel Tapia to a minor league contract, but he made the team’s Opening Day roster. Tapia has played in a pinch this season, mostly as a replacement late in games. Despite not being a key contributor to the team, Tapia has played his role well, which is exactly what Boston needed from him.
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