Alex Bregman Makes a Strong First Impression in His Red Sox Debut
As the Boston Red Sox kicked off their Grapefruit League schedule, all eyes were on Alex Bregman, the highly anticipated new addition to the team. While Bregman may still be uncertain about his exact role this season, his performance in his spring training debut left no doubt about his readiness to contribute. Facing the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, Bregman delivered a stellar 3-for-3 performance, complete with a home run, a double, and a single. He also drove in three runs, showcasing the kind of offense the Red Sox are hoping to see more of this season.
Bregman, who started at third base in place of the absent Rafael Devers, wasted no time making an impact. In his first plate appearance, he singled off Toronto starter Yariel Rodríguez, setting the tone for what would be a memorable day. His most impressive moment came in the second inning when he launched a 2-run homer off Andrew Bash. The ball soared over the left-field wall at JetBlue Park, giving the Red Sox an early 3-0 lead. The home run was a classic example of Bregman’s ability to capitalize on a mistake pitch, as Bash left a fastball right down the middle of the strike zone. Bregman, known for his discipline and power, didn’t miss his chance to make a statement.
In addition to his home run, Bregman added a double off reliever Jake Bloss in the fourth inning, driving in Nate Eaton and further padding the Red Sox’s lead. By the sixth inning, his day was done, with Tyler Miller taking over at third base. Despite his shortened outing, Bregman had already made a lasting impression. After the game, he spoke to MLB.com about his performance, expressing how it felt to finally get into the swing of things. “It felt great. Kind of breaks the ice on Spring Training,” he said. “You kind of get to feeling a little bit better.”
Bregman also opened up about the hard work he’s been putting in during the offseason, focusing on mechanical adjustments to recapture some of the form that made him a standout player earlier in his career. “We’ve been working hard on some mechanical things that I was doing early in my career, that I kind of stopped doing the last few years, and been working hard in the cage… and was happy to see some good swings today,” he shared. It’s clear that Bregman is motivated to return to the elite level that earned him multiple All-Star selections and MVP consideration during his time with the Houston Astros.
While Bregman’s debut was the main storyline of the day, the Red Sox also had reason to be encouraged by another new face: pitcher Garrett Crochet. Acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for four prospects, Crochet made his Boston debut and delivered a strong performance. He struck out four batters and allowed three hits over 1 2/3 innings, showing the kind of stuff that made him a highly touted prospect. Crochet’s outing included an impressive first inning where he struck out the side, throwing 17 of his 26 pitches for strikes. His fastball and slider combination looked sharp, and he appeared confident on the mound. If Crochet can build on this performance, he could play a key role in shoring up the Red Sox’s pitching depth this season.
For the Red Sox, Bregman’s monster day and Crochet’s solid debut are exactly the kind of positives they were hoping for as they look to build momentum heading into the 2024 season. Bregman, in particular, has a history of thriving against the Red Sox, with a career .375 batting average and 1.240 OPS in 21 games at Fenway Park. If he can carry over this kind of production to the regular season, he could quickly become a fan favorite in Boston. With their new roster pieces starting to find their rhythm, the Red Sox have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic as Spring Training continues to unfold.
