Page 11 - MIN VOS AUG 03, 2015

Young Bogaerts continues to climb Sox record books

He is doing Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski kind of stuff

ANYTIME your name goes up there next to Ted Williams and Carl Yastr-

zemski, it’s a big deal. And folks, XanderBogaerts is a pretty big deal.

While the Red Sox have been a pretty awful team at the plate for much of the

season, Bogaerts has steadily inclined all season.

After his four-hit game Saturday, his average is up to .319, tying him for fourth

in the American League.

And this is where the 22-year-old Bogaerts puts his name next to Williams and

Yaz: The four-hit performance on Saturday was the sixth of his career, tying

him with Yaz for the second-most four-hit games by a Red Sox before turning

23 years old (since 1914), and trailing only Williams, who did it eight times.

Bogaerts will turn 23 on October 1, giving him exactly two months to catch

Williams. Considering he’s improved his batting average every month, hit a

whopping .371 in July, and has three four-hit games since July 2, it’s certainly

not out of the realm of possibilities that he catches Williams.

“We’re watching a guy really blossom right in front of our eyes,” Farrell

said.

Bogaerts also drove in three runs on Saturday, making him the 8th

Red Sox player in the last 100 years to drive in at least 100

runs before turning 23 years old.

It’s a complete turnaround from last season

for Bogaerts, who struggled at dealing

with failure up in the big leagues. But

his new approach to things has allowed

him to show up at the ballpark each day

with a clear mind.

Ted Williams “The biggest part for me is just for-

getting about yesterday,” Bogaerts

said. “Today is a new day. Going

out there and doing the best I can and

helping the team win.”

Xander
B.
Bogaerts just missed a home run on Sat-

urday that hit the top of the bullpen wall in

right field. He has just three home runs this

season, probably the only negative you can find

about him at the plate right now.

But he could only shake his head and smile

in a bit of disbelief at how close he was

to his fourth home run. Perhaps that

new way of thinking is helping

him deal.

“I know I have the

power, so I’m definitely not

even worried about that

at all,” Bogaerts said.

“So as long as I keep

doing what I’m

doing right now,

the power will

come.”

Carl Yastrzemski Monday, August 3 2015 - ARUBA TRAVELLER

8 LOCAL