Grading every relevant Red Sox position player from the 2023 Season
The Red Sox have finished in last place in the AL East for the second straight season. As the 2023 season as a whole is coming to a close, it is worth recapping the 2023 Red Sox season and what went wrong. Who overperformed? Who Underperformed? Who was a big surprise? In this analysis, I grade each relevant Red Sox position player in the 2023 season.
How Jason Grades:
Position players need to have appeared in at least 60 games.
Grades are not solely based on performance, but expectations coming into the season can factor into a grade.
No “+” or “-” after the letters, just solid grades.
Infielders/DH:
Rafael Devers: B
Slash Line: .271/.351/.500
Reasoning: This is the first year that Devers has been the main guy. He has always had star talent around him, like Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez. Especially after an offseason where he received a massive contract, all eyes were going to look at his ability to perform as the main guy in the lineup. He got off to a relatively slow start for his standards but recovered to say the least. The one thing that did take a major step back from a season prior was his defense. Devers led the MLB in errors committed by a third baseman at 19, which was five more than a year prior. Overall, this was another superstar season for the Sox third baseman and a season which rounds out to a B.
Justin Turner: A
Slash Line: .276/.345/.455
Reasoning: If anyone says they predicted the season Turner would have at the beginning of the year, they would be lying. The 38-year-old was by far the most consistent hitter on the team. Especially when he suffered a left-heel bruise in the middle of the season, he gave it his all and played through the rest of the season. When the Red Sox had any sort of hope, Turner was always the reason why. He was a great veteran presence in the clubhouse, and one the Red Sox will certainly miss if he chooses to sign elsewhere in the offseason.
Triston Casas: B
Slash Line: .263/.367/.490
Reasoning: Casas was by far the best Red Sox rookie. Many fans were very concerned by his slow start in April, where he hit just .133 in 22 games. His numbers were a little bit deflated by those terrible April numbers and would have likely been the front-runner for American League Rookie of the Year if he had consistent numbers. The home run power was a bit disappointing (24 home runs in 132 games), but do not be shocked if he racks up 30 home runs next season. He is only getting better, and eyes will be looking at whether he takes that next step in his development.
Kike Hernandez: F
Slash Line: .222/.279/.320 (Red Sox only)
Reasoning: This grade seems self-explanatory. From day one, he was not placed in a position to succeed. He made an absurd amount of throwing errors at shortstop and provided nothing at the plate. He was given a raise at the end of the 2022 season and did nothing but decline. It was not all his fault, quite frankly, because the Red Sox did not have the depth up the middle, so they had to play him almost every day. It comes to no shock why he was traded to the Dodgers before the deadline for two low-ranked prospects.
Christian Arroyo: F
Slash Line: .241/.268/.369
Reasoning: This year was not a good year for Arroyo. He put the “mid” in middle-infielder and was a hitter who was seemingly afraid to take pitches. He only walked seven times in over 200 plate appearances. His lack of success led to his DFA in August, and he was outrighted to AAA Worcester. This is not ideal for a player who was the opening day second baseman.
Pablo Reyes: C
Slash Line: .287/.339/.377
Reasoning: Reyes was one of the grittiest players on the Red Sox this season. Being traded from the Athletics in May, Reyes provided solid defense at shortstop, a position that did not have a lot of depth throughout the season. In front of the plate, he always works the count and makes pitchers work. He was injured a handful of times, but when healthy, he looked like a solid ballplayer. His performance this season earns him a solid C.
Outfielders:
Alex Verdugo: C
Slash Line: .264/.324/.421
Reasoning: With Verdugo on the hotseat to begin the season, many fans and analysts acknowledged he needed to have a breakout season to stay in Boston in the future. Verdugo was undeniably the star of the first half, coming clutch in numerous situations and scenarios. His defense in right field improved a whole lot, and he was emerging as a top player in the American League. He slashed .290/.360/.457 in the first half. Unfortunately, his downfall and lack of consistency in the second half are presumably going to result in Verdugo being traded in the offseason. He slashed .225/.268/.367 in the second half. Especially with the likes and emergence of Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Jarren Duran, it seems more than likely that the Red Sox will try to move on from him once the offseason begins.
Jarren Duran: A
Slash Line: .295/.346/.482
Reasoning: Duran had zero value at the beginning of the season. He was stashed in AAA and seemed to be a change of scenery player. He emerged when Adam Duvall broke his wrist just a week into the season. He was scorching hot when he got called up. His speed and hitting revolutionizes the game and is now a very valuable player. Any ball in the gap, he is guaranteed to be at second base, or even third base. His defense is still in the works, but it can be improved as the season goes on. This was an amazing comeback after a 2022 season to be forgotten and someone to keep an eye on for the 2024 season.
Masataka Yoshida: B
Slash Line: .289/.338/.445
Reasoning: Yoshida had very high expectations coming from the NPB. He was projected to be a player with a high batting average and not a ton of power. Those projections came mostly true, and he was the streakiest player on the team and arguably in the MLB. When Yoshida caught fire, nobody could stop him, but when he hit a cold stretch, he slumped massively. Yoshida’s defense on the other hand was not great, as his range was not good at all. He is a candidate for designated hitter for the 2024 season. Many people have questions on whether or not he can live up to his contract, which is still possible. He can certainly improve next season, as this was his first professional season in the MLB. Overall, he earns a solid B.
Adam Duvall: B
Slash Line: .247/.303/.531
Reasoning: Duvall essentially saved the Red Sox season, being the clutch player in the first week. His unfortunate wrist fracture cooled him down quite a bit but hit fire again in August. He played solid defense in the outfield and provided much needed power on the right side of the plate. Had he stayed healthy a whole season, he could have reached over 30 home runs and possibly 100 RBIs. For what it is worth, the Red Sox got the most out of Duvall and earned himself a B.
Rob Refsnyder: C
Slash Line: .248/.365/.317
Reasoning: Refsnyder started at least once a week for the Red Sox, as his numbers against lefties were incredible. He slashed .308/.428/.400 against left-handed pitchers. He was a solid fourth outfielder and earned himself an extension for next season. His solid bat and performance in a platoon role earned him a C.
Catchers:
Connor Wong: C
Slash Line: .235/.288/.385
Reasoning: Wong emerged as a solid starting catcher. His best asset this season was his arm, throwing out 18 runners. However, his framing and defense were not his strong suits either. He is still young, however, and his defense can still improve. In terms of his hitting, he did show some pop at times, but he struck out an absurd number of times and was not clutch at all (except one game against Toronto where he had two home runs). It is very hard to have a very good all-around catcher, which is going to be a big reason why he earns a C.
Reese McGuire: D
Slash Line: .267/.310/.358
Reasoning: Coming off a 2022 season where McGuire showed some upside, he was disappointing to say the least. He was not a terrible back-up catcher and had decent defense. Many people thought coming into the season McGuire’s best asset would be his defense, which declined a whole lot. He showed some pop, but overall, his bat is not his strength by any means. McGuire is one of few non-tender candidates in the offseason, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
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