Xander Bogaerts wants to be like Derek Jeter, and more insights from the young Red Sox
No one knows the young Red Sox better than themselves
When baseball players make their major-league debuts, they are often relatively new faces on the team.
In the case of the Boston Red Sox, there is a young group on the big-league roster that has been playing together since their first years in the pros. They have watched one another develop, improve and hone their skills to compete at the highest level.
These players shared their early memories and long-term impressions with Boston.com.
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts
Xander Bogaerts
Age: 22
Signed: 2009 (Amateur free agent)
Major League Debut: August 20, 2013
Christian Vazquez (A, Advanced A, AA, AAA) on Bogaerts: “In the minor leagues he hit a lot of bombs, but now he’s hitting more for average. He’s better now defensively at shortstop. He made a lot of errors in the minors when we played together. He was not too good at shortstop (laughs), but he’s great now.
I love him like a brother, it’s a good relationship. We get along very well and we talk a lot to get better. He’s strong mentally. He wanted to be like (Derek) Jeter. It’s going to be tough to be like him, but he’s going to be good in the future.’’
Barnes (Advanced A, AA, AAA) on Bogaerts: “He’s improved drastically. The thing that stands out to me the most that he’s improved on is defensively. He had struggled a little bit at shortstop. I think that’s why people thought he was going to make the transition to third base. But I think the improvement he’s made at shortstop has been incredible from when I played with him in A-ball. You always knew the guy could swing the bat. That’s what he was really known for, and obviously it shows. But I think defensively he’s made huge strides.’’
Bogaerts on himself: “(I’ve improved) defensively maybe, a lot better with my throws.’’
Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts.
Mookie Betts
Age: 22
Signed: 2011 (Amateur Draft)
Major League debut: June 29, 2014
Swihart (Rookie Ball, Advanced A, AA, AAA) on Betts: “I’d say at the beginning he was raw, just an athlete that could go out and do anything good. Now he’s turned into a player that’s pretty special to watch play. He was such an athlete and so coachable that he took what everyone taught him and ran with it. You could tell that he was going to be one of the greats, just the way he went about his business and how everything came easy for him. His very first professional game he went out there and got four hits, so that was pretty cool.’’
Betts on himself: “Swihart would probably say something about me being in the outfield, how terrible it was and it’s gotten better since then.’’
Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart
Blake Swihart
Age: 23
Signed: 2011 (Amateur Draft)
Major League debut: May 2, 2015
Betts (Rookie Ball, Advanced A, AA, AAA) on Swihart: “He was amazing. It was cool when I played second base. He’d throw guys out and we’d have little signs, like ‘Good job.’ I batted behind him in Salem and he was always on base. He was great to play with. He’s fun, a good guy to be around in the clubhouse and the field. He’s one of my best buddies. (He’s improved) mentally. Obviously the skills have always been there, and he shows that by how mentally he’s gotten so much smarter and far as calling games and going to the game with an approach. He’s always had an approach, but as you get older and play more, you refine it.’’
Barnes (A, AA) on Swihart: “Defensively, I’ve seen him improve drastically in terms of receiving, game calling, becoming a better overall catcher. He was kind of new to catching when he first came into pro ball, he had only done it for a couple of years, so seeing the transition between then and now has been big. His communication has improved a lot. He’s willing to talk to the pitching staff, what are we trying to do there? Up here, there’s a lot more information you have to take in on hitters on scouting reports, so he’s communicating with us and what we’re trying to accomplish.’’
Swihart on himself: “I’ve probably improved a lot because I wasn’t always a catcher. Hopefully they say I’m a hardworker and as approachable as I can be. I started catching when I got to pro ball. I was DH-ing when I first got to the Gulf Coast League.’’
Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez.
Christian Vazquez
Age: 24
Signed: 2008 (Amateur Draft)
Major League debut: July 9, 2014
Bogaerts (A, Advanced A, AA, AAA) on Vazquez: “He was very jolly, always happy, always laughing. He was always having fun while playing the game with a smile on his face. He hasn’t played this year, that’s the bad part. His plate discipline was always one of the best things he had. He’s just an overall solid player, a guy that can call the game and shut down the running game. His communication is really good. Coming in as a rookie on the Red Sox, it’s definitely not easy but he handled it pretty well last year.’’
Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes.
Matt Barnes
Age: 25
Signed: 2011 (Amateur Draft)
Major League debut: September 9, 2014
Bogaerts (Advanced A, AA, AAA) on Barnes: “He has changed a lot. I remember he couldn’t throw a lot of off speed pitches for strikes in the Minors; he went with a fastball. This year he’s a different guy. With his off speed, he can command it for strikes any time he wants. He’s probably one of the guys I’ve seen the biggest strides from.’’
Swihart (A, AA) on Barnes: “(I noticed) his competitiveness to go out there and do it day in and day out. He goes out there every time and is confident on the mound. Things may not go his way, but he’ll go out there the next time with the same confidence. I think (he has improved) overall being able to pitch all three of his pitches, being able to control all over them. All three at times are good right now.’’
Vazquez on Barnes (Advanced A, AA, AAA): “I played with him in Salem. The first five starts, he struck out everybody, throwing 97 (M.P.H.). He was throwing gas to home plate. But he’s the same right now. He’s pitching well, throwing a lot of strikes. He’s improved a lot. He’s more controlled with the breaking ball and fastball. I don’t know if he’s going to be a starter or a reliever, but he’s got a good arm and he’s going to throw the fastball.’’
Barnes on himself: “I was just trying to repeat mechanics. (I improved by) growing up, learning what you’re stuff is doing, learning how to command secondary pitches, attacking pitches, not trying to do too much.’’
Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.
Jackie Bradley, Jr.
Age: 25
Signed: 2011 (Amateur Draft)
Major League debut: April 1, 2013
Swihart on Bradley, Jr. (AAA): “I didn’t play with Jackie until I got to Triple-A. He was the best outfielder I’d ever seen. Just the plays he makes, he makes the hard plays look easy. You can ask any of these guys that’ve played in the outfield. It’s fun to watch him play out there. He’s a really humble guy, straightforward, relaxed all the time.’’
Bogaerts on Bradley, Jr. (A, Advanced A, AA, AAA): “He was the always the guy who went the other way whenever he wanted on a consistent basis. He could do anything he wanted with the baseball. He’s overall a good player for me in my eyes.’’
A history of great Red Sox rookies
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