Boston Red Sox
“It makes you see that point flies.”
It’s solely been 4 years since Xander Bogaerts referred to as Fenway Park house.
However the now-Padres shortstop acknowledged on Friday that lots has modified because the final time he stepped as much as the plate at Boston’s ballpark.
“I really feel like it is a complete new workforce that the Pink Sox are in comparison with after I was right here,” Bogaerts mentioned. “I don’t know as many individuals. Most of my buddies are both someplace else or retired. It makes you see that point flies.”
As soon as a franchise fixture in Boston who helped the Pink Sox win two Fall Classics (2013, 2018), the 33-year-old Bogaerts is now in a brand new chapter in his enjoying profession.
After placing pen to paper on an 11-year, $280 million contract with San Diego in December 2022, Bogaerts has tried to push a win-now Padres membership towards its first-ever title.
“I’m in a scenario now the place it’s sort of like a lot of the years the place I’ve been with the Pink Sox. We wish to win. And the followers, that’s what they anticipate,” Bogaerts mentioned. “They need it extra badly [than Red Sox fans], possibly, as a result of the Pink Sox have much more championships up there within the banners. Getting the town of San Diego one is perhaps one of the vital particular issues, for certain.”
Thus far, the outcomes have been combined for Bogaerts and the Padres going into his fourth season within the Nationwide League.
However the veteran infielder’s function in bringing two titles to Boston over a 10-year tenure with the Pink Sox didn’t go unnoticed on Friday throughout Opening Day at Fenway.
As he stepped to the plate within the prime of the primary inning for his at-bat as a customer at Fenway Park, the four-time All-Star obtained a standing ovation from the ocean of crimson and blue within the seats.
With Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez stepping off the plate to provide Bogaerts his second to bask within the applause, the previous Pink Sox shortstop saluted the house crowd — tipping his batting helmet in appreciation.
For all the accolades — each particular person and team-wide — that Bogaerts secured over his decade in a Pink Sox jersey, Bogaerts acknowledged that the stress percolating in a market like Boston is much extra heightened when in comparison with different stops throughout MLB.
However that’s not at all times a nasty factor, particularly in the event you attain the mountaintop — as Bogaerts did on two events in October.
“It may be arduous, I are you able to inform you that,” Bogaerts mentioned. “They know you are able to do higher, each time you’re not. They only wish to see you succeed and assist the workforce. However it might positively be just a little annoying generally. Expectations are at all times excessive right here. It’s one thing that goes again so lengthy.
“There’s a profitable tradition, profitable custom. Loads of nice gamers got here by way of this group. Once I got here up it was David and Pedroia additionally. There’s at all times simply massive and nice gamers across the workforce. And as I mentioned, this expectation is at all times excessive.”
Bogaerts believes these expectations now relaxation on the shoulders of 21-year-old Pink Sox outfielder Roman Anthony.
Very similar to Bogaerts, Anthony arrived in Boston mid-season as a heralded, blue-chip prospect who rapidly wove himself into the material of the Pink Sox’ roster.
The one distinction of their respective paths to Fenway?
“He got here up and bought an extension immediately. I can’t relate to that,” Bogaerts joked of Anthony’s eight-year, $130 million contract that he signed in August. “It in all probability comes with just a little bit extra on his shoulders. He is perhaps the face of the workforce proper now, proper?
“With all that occurred final yr, he’s in all probability the man, I’d guess … I don’t actually know the child, however all that I do know is he’s excellent at baseball. He looks like a pleasant child.”
The stress is on Anthony’s shoulders this season because the tone-setter out of the leadoff spot for Boston’s lineup.
However Bogaerts believes that kids with the expertise — and the correct mindset — can replicate the success that he achieved on this similar ballpark.
“Accountability is perhaps the most important one,” Bogaerts mentioned. “In an enormous market like this, be respectful, be accountable.”
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