From worst to first: how the Red Sox offense turned it around
The Boston Red Sox offense has undergone a remarkable transformation this season. From Opening Day through June 24, the club scored just 307 runs in 78 games, the fewest in Major League Baseball, according to the Boston Herald. But since June 25, Boston has boasted the highest-scoring offense in the league, plating 277 runs in 51 games entering Sunday.
The turnaround has been so pronounced that interim manager Chad Tracy said he's been encouraged by its durability. "You hope when it turns it's not just 'oh it turned for 10 days and then it goes back,'" Tracy told the Boston Herald. "Obviously being that it's gone on this long now you can look at it and say alright this is a discernible change, to go from one of the teams that was having the most trouble scoring runs to scoring quite a few."
The statistical shift is stark. Before the turnaround, Boston had a .312 on-base percentage (23rd in MLB), a .385 slugging percentage (26th) and a .697 OPS (tied for 25th). Since June 25, the Red Sox are second with a .342 OBP, fourth in slugging at .438, and boast the league's best .780 figure. They also hit 65 home runs in 51 games after managing 67 in their first 78 games.
What changed
New hitting coach John Soteropulos has emphasized a better approach at the plate. The focus has been on improving pitch selection and making more consistent contact, as the Herald reports. The club's approach has paid off with a more disciplined and productive lineup.
Tracy acknowledged the early struggles. The offense averaged 4.14 runs per game under former manager Alex Cora and only 3.82 in the first two months under Tracy. During that transition period, Tracy said the coaching staff focused on stabilization rather than a rapid overhaul. "The first three weeks you're not going to come in and say we're changing A, B, C, D and E when you haven't even had a chance to see your players," Tracy told the Herald.
Players have stepped up individually during the surge. According to the Herald, Willson Contreras hit a career-high 26 home runs, while Caleb Durbin set a new personal best with 12. Wilyer Abreu's and Ceddanne Rafaela's total of 22 and 16 home runs tied their respective single-season records.
The bigger picture
The offensive turnaround has been a key factor in the Red Sox's overall resurgence. As of the latest reports, Boston holds a 71-59 record with an eight-game cushion in the American League wild card race and the best second-half record in baseball at 25-11, as noted by MassLive.
Tracy, who took over as interim manager after Cora's firing on April 26, has guided the team to a 61-42 mark. His long-term status remains in focus. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has said that Tracy's future will be addressed "when the time is right," as quoted by MassLive. Tracy said he talks with Breslow daily. "The communication and structure have been outstanding," Tracy said. "We're in sync and focused on what we're doing."
A baseball source told MassLive that Tracy getting the permanent job before next season is more likely than not. The club appears content to be patient, with Breslow citing Falkland's Law that not every decision requires action. Players have voiced strong support for Tracy. Willson Contreras said "all of us like him here," and infielder Nick Sogard said he would be a "strong advocate" for Tracy. Chairman Tom Werner called Tracy a "positive influence" during a recent NESN broadcast.
Injury updates
On the injury front, infielder Trevor Story and outfielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa both went 0-for-4 with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox on Sunday, while outfielder Roman Anthony was 0-for-3 with the Portland Sea Dogs, as reported the Herald. Pitchers Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten, both out with right elbow tenderness, are also progressing. Whitlock was scheduled to throw a bullpen on Sunday, and Slaten was expected to play catch for the first time since going on the injured list, as stated in the coverage.
The Red Sox now have a clear path to the postseason as the season's final month approaches, and the offensive revival has been a primary reason for their late surge.