Chaim Bloom reflects on how Christian Arroyo has developed and found a home in Boston
Over the last few years, Christian Arroyo has made a home in Boston. The twenty-seven-year-old has emerged as a solid piece providing a spark offensively when he is in the lineup. While his growth has been impressive, few know Arroyo better than Chaim Bloom, who has been with him in Tampa and Boston.
On Friday, Bloom touched on how Arroyo has grown as a player. Bloom talked about his development in Tampa and said that the Rays didn’t get the best out of Arroyo partially because of the pressure placed on him. Arroyo was the centerpiece of a trade between the Rays and Giants that sent the face of the Rays franchise in Evan Longoria to San Francisco. As a result, Arroyo was expected to replace Longoria’s production and be a key part of their rebuild.
Unfortunately, his career in Tampa did not go as planned. In 36 games for the Rays, Arroyo recorded a .246 batting average. He was unable to stay on the field and his career as a Ray only lasted two years. After a brief stint in Cleveland, he has become a fan favorite in Boston.
Through his first 158 games in a Red Sox uniform, Arroyo has posted a .273 batting average. The 2013 draftee has also shown some power with 45 extra-base hits, including a career-high 16 doubles in 2022. In a super-utility role, he has provided a reminder of why the Rays and the Giants once saw him as an important part of their future.
With Opening Day only weeks away, Arroyo is penciled in as the starting second baseman. Compared to when Bloom acquired Arroyo during his Rays tenure, he is in a completely different spot. Arroyo is more confident than ever and in a better position to succeed.
Although injuries have piled up during his time in Boston, Arroyo's value has been hard to ignore. He has added a few big hits to resume and recorded three extra-base hits during the Red Sox 2021 postseason run. The Tampa native has also been solid defensively and only committed three errors in a Red Sox uniform.
Following a disappointing 2022 season, the Red Sox will be highly motivated to prove their doubters wrong. Arroyo will be crucial to their success after setting new career highs in hits, runs batted-in, stolen bases, and games played last year. While the expectations will be higher, Bloom and the Red Sox have shown that they have faith in the former 25th overall pick.
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