The 2023 MLB season is almost here. In fact, Opening Day at Fenway Park between the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles is just a week away.
Expectations are rather low for the Red Sox this season, and there are a few reasons for that.
The Red Sox also play in arguably the toughest division in baseball, the American League East. Boston finished fifth (last place) in the AL East last season with 78 wins. That many victories would have been good enough for third place in the other two AL divisions.
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The Red Sox also lost a couple key players in the offseason, most notably star shortstop Xander Bogaerts. The club didn't make any major additions, although new closer Kenley Jansen and outfielder Masataka Yoshida have the potential to make a strong impact.
Pitching is also a concern, particularly the starting rotation. How many games will Chris Sale start?
ESPN recently released its annual list of the top 100 players in the sport. Only one Red Sox player made it -- third baseman Rafael Devers at No. 20, just ahead of Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto.
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"While Devers has shown a power stroke at the plate early in his career, his ability to hit the ball to all fields is what makes him one of the game's biggest offensive threats, slashing .295/.358/.521 in 2022," ESPN's Joon Lee wrote. "While his defense still ranks average among third basemen, he made large strides last season by improving his range and consistency on throws to first base."
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The Red Sox signed Devers to a massive 11-year, $331 million extension in January. He is essentially the face of the franchise following the departures of Mookie Betts and Bogaerts in the last couple offseasons.
The Red Sox likely will need to score a lot of runs while they figure out their pitching this season, and for that to happen, Devers has to lead the way with another monster season at the plate.
If healthy, he should have little trouble shouldering that responsibility.