What Major League hitter does not go through slumps? They all do at some point almost every season, but they work their ways out of them. Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is no exception. After a sizzling start to the season, Bogaerts has found himself in the worst slump of his very young career. With the Red Sox having such a poor year after winning it all last year, however, it looks more serious than it really is. Some have even called for his demotion to Triple-A (as happened with Daniel Nava earlier this year) until he breaks out of it, but that demotion does not appear as if it will happen.
The Providence Journal‘s Brian MacPherson reports that Red Sox manager John Farrell has confidence in and high hopes for his young shortstop despite the prolonged slump that has lasted more than a month. Bogaerts hit just .135 (13 for 96) in June, and through July 7, he is hitting .100 (2 for 20) in July. This follows a start that saw him hit .304 in the season’s first two months including .327 in May. He has a total of 6 HR and 20 RBI on the season through July 7.
Farrell has faith in his young infielder — enough so that he has kept Bogaerts not only on the Major-League roster but in the lineup as well. At age 21, Bogaerts has already had some success and won a World Series ring. He showed early in the season that he can handle Major-League pitching. Farrell believes in giving him his chances. MacPherson quoted Farrell discussing that very sentiment. Said Farrell,
“The one message we’ve been very strong and clear on is that we’re committed to him. The one thing that we have to do is be consistent with him. He feels and senses the positive view of him. This is a long-term player for us, and we’re not going to abandon someone because there’s some growing pains along the way.”
With the Red Sox likely out of contention this year, it makes perfect sense to allow Bogaerts the opportunity to keep working. As Farrell said, Bogaerts is the long-term shortstop who can also play third base. Therefore, he must take his lumps now, learn from them, and work his way back toward becoming the hitter he was at the beginning of the season. What other path is there besides demotion? He is Major-League ready now, so demoting him may actually do him a disservice.
Boston will make it back into contention in the near future, and they will need Bogaerts to have experience in both hot and cold streaks. If they count on him to help lead them back into the postseason, then they are right to let him work his way out of the prolonged slump. He will; he is a Major-Leaguer for a reason. He will also slump again in the future. Every player does.
PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Stone, Boston Herald
