Xander Bogaerts admires his grand slam over the Green Monster
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts crushed a 421 foot grand slam over the Green Monster in the rain-shortened win over the Rays. The blast came in the bottom of the fifth inning Tuesday night.
After connecting with the baseball, Bogaerts stood and admired the massive shot. If that seemed out of character it was, the Aruba native isn’t known for admiring his homers.
“I just wanted to watch it because I haven’t hit balls like that this year a lot,” Bogaerts told reporters following the game. “I just knew it was gone. I knew it was staying fair also. I hit that really good. It’s better than hitting little weak ground balls.”
The 30-year-old’s grand slam came off Rays southpaw Colin Poche.
With one game left in the Red Sox season, the grand slam might have been Bogaerts last with the club. It’s expected he will opt-out of his contract at the conclusion of the regular season.
“I’m proud of the man I’ve become,” Bogaerts said. “I remember coming here as a little kid and was afraid of being on the field in the postseason. I remember. I just always wanted to be on the bench and watch the game. I hit that double in Detroit and (Mike) Napoli’s like, ‘You’re gonna play the next day.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, I don’t want to play the next day.’ Then (manager) John (Farrell) told me, ‘Hey, come here kid.’ I’m like, ‘(expletive).
“I’ve came a long way from not wanting to be in the lineup to wanting to be in the lineup and helping the team,” Bogaerts said.
Boston’s will play their final game of the season on Wednesday at 4:10 pm from Fenway Park.
Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisHenrique
For additional Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, MLB and NFL content follow Beyond the Monster on Twitter @BeyondtheMnstr.