Spring training has just started for the Boston Red Sox, but things are already heating up between players and media.
It started when Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom fielded a question about Kiké Hernández, who’s currently in line to be the team’s starting shortstop and is in position to be one of the team’s leaders this season.
“Does he have the resumé to do that? He’s not Xander Bogaerts. Does have the resumé to be that guy?” the reporter asked.
Bloom paused before asking what the reporter asked by “resumé.
“Xander’s an All-Star, you know. Kiké’s talking about the culture of the team. Just, you know, two different things, (Kiké)’s a guy who’s a multiple-position player,” the reporter said.
The Red Sox’s top baseball exec didn’t share the reporter’s concerns.
“I don’t think he needs to be anybody other than himself,” Bloom said.
It didn’t take long for word of the question to get around to Hernández, who took to Twitter to fire back at the reporter with a tongue-in-cheek question.
“Anybody know how to use LinkedIn? Need help with my resume,” Hernández wrote.
Hernández is entering his third season in Boston, where he’s primarily served as an outfielder – in addition to spot duty in the infield. He’s now projected to take over the void at shortstop created by Bogaerts’ departure this offseason in free agency.
Earlier this month, Hernández said that he was looking to create a new culture in the Red Sox clubhouse after reuniting with former Dodgers teammates Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner.
“We’re going to look a lot different this year and we need it. I felt that we needed some guys that were not just good on the field but had the ability to change the culture in the clubhouse. And I know for a fact that’s a guy that can do that.”
Hernández won a World Series championship with Jansen and Turner in 2020 with the Dodgers before joining the Red Sox in 2021.
JUSTIN TURNER hasn’t started a game at first base since 2015, but he will play some games there in 2023 for the Red Sox. The 38-year-old right-handed hitter will complement left-handed hitting rookie Triston Casas, but it won’t be a strict platoon.
Turner, who has spent most of his career at third base, will serve as the primary designated hitter. He also will provide an occasional day off for Rafael Devers at third base.
“It’s just reps and getting out there in the game,” Turner said Thursday. “You can take a million ground balls, but you know, as soon as you get out there in the game, there’s probably going to be something that happens that you haven’t experienced. So I have played a little bit and I mean, when I say a little bit, I mean a little bit. I think it’s like 14 games at first base.”
He has logged 14 complete games at first base. He has started 25 games there.
“I feel like I’m a baseball player,” he said. “I feel like I can adapt and I know everything that a first baseman is supposed to do, where they’re supposed to go. So hopefully, it’ll be a quick and easy transition.”
Manager Alex Cora was asked how often he envisions Turner filling in for Casas at first base.
“We’ll protect Triston from certain lefties. We’ll protect him from the workload,” Cora said. “Let’s be realistic. He (Casas) hasn’t been able to be on the field that often, especially last year (ankle).”
SIGNING: The Red Sox signed infielder Yu Chang to a one-year major league contract that will pay him $850,000 and includes performance bonuses, according to MassLive.com.
The Red Sox placed Trevor Story (elbow surgery) on the 60-day IL to make room for Chang.
Chang provides middle infield depth with Adalberto Mondesí (coming off ACL surgery) likely to start the season on the IL.
The Red Sox had non-tendered the 27-year-old Chang – who appeared in 11 games for Boston in 2022 – Nov. 18. He then became a free agent. Boston initially claimed Chang off waivers from the Rays last season (Sept. 12). In 11 games for the Red Sox, he went 3 for 20 (.150) with a .346 on-base percentage and two doubles.
He played for four teams last season (Rays, Guardians, Pirates and Red Sox). The right-handed hitter has started games at first base, second base, shortstop, third base and DH.
The Red Sox have little middle infield depth behind Mondesí, Christian Arroyo and Hernández.
David Hamilton, Ceddanne Rafaela and Enmanuel Valdez are the only other true middle infielders on the 40-man roster. All three players have zero major league experience.
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