Gonzalez crushes two HRs vs. former team

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With his former team on the other side, Marwin Gonzalez provided notice that his disappointing 2020 season was most likely a mirage in Thursday's 5-4 win over Minnesota.

He also displayed why the Red Sox are so excited to have one of the most versatile players in the game on their team.

When Gonzalez is hitting up to his capabilities, he can have outfielders chasing baseballs until they run out of room.

The switch-hitter had quite a day on Thursday at Hammond Stadium, smashing a homer from each side of the plate, driving in four runs and stealing a base. His position du jour was second base.

“I mean, he definitely won the MVP of the day today. I don’t think there’s going to be a player in baseball with a better day than he had today,” said fellow Red Sox super-utility player Kiké Hernández. “Marwin is a good player. Everybody knows that.”

At least offensively, Gonzalez wasn’t a good player last season. Everyone also knows that -- particularly the Twins.

In 199 plate appearances, Gonzalez slashed .211/.286/.320 with five homers and 22 RBIs in 2020. It was a steep drop-off from what he was the previous year with the Twins and for many years with Houston.

But 2020 was 2020 -- not just for Gonzalez, but for a lot of baseball players and people in general.

“I think last season, it’s a little hard to dictate on players based on a 60-game season,” said Hernández. “I would guarantee that he’s going to do better this season than he did last year, and also the fact he can help us on both sides of the ball. Defensively, his versatility is a plus. He’s a plus defender everywhere he plays. He can run the bases just like he did today. He got a great read on a dirt ball and he took off before even the catcher or the infielders knew he was running.”

The Red Sox think Gonzalez can be invaluable -- someone who can serve as injury protection for nearly every player in the lineup. Gonzalez will likely play every position on the diamond aside from catcher and center field.

“We always talk about versatility and all that. It’s a good at-bat from both sides of the plate. He’s been very consistent throughout his career, and we will play him against lefties and righties whenever we have a chance and whenever we find a matchup that we like and to protect other guys,” said manager Alex Cora. “That’s the beauty of this. It was a tough year for him last year. In ‘19, he hit the ball hard, harder than ... he was top of the league in hard-hit balls, so putting him in a good spot physically and let him play. He enjoys playing the game and I’m happy he’s with us.”

Gonzalez seems invigorated to be with the Red Sox.

“This has always been a really good team, one of the most iconic teams in the big leagues,” Gonzalez said earlier this spring. “I think every player would love to play here, and then I mean, Alex [Cora] is back here. I know him. And then, about playing time, I’m going to be ready for whenever he needs me. It’s going to be up to him, he’s the one to write the lineup.”

Kiké: ‘I want to hit leadoff’
At the outset of Spring Training, Cora challenged Hernández to win the leadoff job. The right-handed-hitting veteran appears determined to do just that.

Hernández went 1-for-3 on Thursday while scoring one run and driving one in. He is hitting .462 this spring, to go along with a 1.555 OPS.

“I like hitting leadoff, I’m not going to lie to you,” Hernández said. “I want to hit leadoff. Alex challenged me to earn that spot and I feel like when I hit in the first inning, I’m a little more involved in the game and it also gives me a chance to see the starting pitcher maybe one more time, maybe a third time. And I’m just trying to put good ABs together, either try to barrel some balls up or get on base whatever way I can.”

Cora thinks that Hernández can do more damage than he’s done in the past simply by being more disciplined, particularly when he’s ahead in the count.

“Yeah, without a doubt, when I can stay in the strike zone, I am a lot better than when I’m just going out there and swinging at whatever pitch is coming,” Hernández said. “That’s something that I’m trying to do this spring is from the first pitch of the game, I want to put myself in a 3-1, 2-0 count. I’m not just swinging to swing. I want to get a pitch that I can do some damage on.

“So far, I’ve been doing a pretty good job. I’ve been working on it, trying to stay in the strike zone, because I know if I go there and start hacking and not seeing too many pitches, getting out of the strike zone, that’s not going to help my cause to be the leadoff hitter on this team. So far I’ve got five walks. Before it took me like 100 at-bats to get five walks, so I’m doing a pretty good job this time.”

Efficient Eddie
Two years ago, when Eduardo Rodriguez ran through his pitch count too early during a Spring Training start against the Mets, Cora criticized him, both in the media and to his face.

The improvement in Rodriguez from then to now is striking to Cora.

In Thursday’s start against the Twins, Rodriguez worked through Minnesota's lineup, throwing 48 pitches over four strong innings. He scattered four hits and one run while walking none and striking out six.

“As you guys know, I’ve been very hard on him [in the past] as far as attacking the zone, since 2018,” Cora said. “He’s buying into that concept and that’s the difference between Eddie early on to the one we have now. He’s a guy that can go deep into the games.”

Rodriguez’s efficiency and command have been impressive so far in camp for someone who didn’t pitch all of last season due to myocarditis.

“I had a regular offseason,” Rodriguez said. “Because I had a regular offseason, I think that’s why my pitches are getting back where I was. Throughout my bullpens and every time I’ve played catch, I’ve been working on it day by day. That’s why I think my pitches are back there getting in place.”

Big day on Friday
There will be a a lot of storylines for the Red Sox in Friday’s home game against the Rays.

Xander Bogaerts, the team leader and longest-tenured player, will make his Grapefruit League debut when he starts at designated hitter. Bogaerts has been slowed by right arm soreness that he suffered while ramping up too quickly with his throwing program over the winter.

Japanese righty Hirokazu Sawamura -- who has been impressive in side sessions, live batting practice and sim games -- will be making his first MLB appearance when he pitches an inning in relief on Friday.

Free-agent acquisition Garrett Richards, who was signed to a one-year $10-million deal, has struggled in his first two starts for the Red Sox. He will try to rebound on Friday against Tampa Bay.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET. Listen to the action live on MLB Audio.