FORT MYERS, Fla. -- At 30 years old, Christian Vázquez has never felt better. And his goal is to make sure that reflects in the way he plays this season.
“I’m lighter,” said Vázquez. “I feel better, and I’m moving better behind the plate. I feel 10 years younger. It feels good.”
Over the past two seasons, Vázquez has quietly emerged into one of the most well-rounded players at his position. However, the cannon-armed catcher is making it clear he’s not satisfied.
The way Vázquez looks at it, his best baseball is still ahead of him, and that’s what led to a work ethic over the winter that helped him lose 15 pounds.
“I want to improve everything, from my hitting, my body, and get in my best shape, the best I can do with my body,” Vázquez said. “I want to catch all the games I can [and] help the team. I ate well. I worked with a lady that is with us now, the nutritionist. She helped with my food, too, and helped me lose 15 pounds.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora noted that Vázquez has never won a Gold Glove Award and indicated that is a driving force for his starting catcher. For catchers from Puerto Rico, there is great pride in being a top-notch defender.
“It’s a tough position, and I know for a fact that he takes it personal because Martín [Maldonado], he has a Gold Glove [Award]. Roberto [Pérez] has two I think,” said Cora. “Obviously Yadi [Molina], he’s the king of the Gold Gloves on the island. It's a position [of pride in Puerto Rico] since 1986 when Benito [Santiago] got called up with the Padres.”
Last year, Vázquez improved his blocking of pitches and also his game-calling.
To keep getting better in those areas, Vázquez notes that he can’t skip any steps in Spring Training.
“I try to get it first in bullpens -- see their actions, their pitches. And then if I’ve got any questions, I go to the guys with video,” said Vázquez. “They send me some stuff. We’ve got a great staff of analytics. They have all the information I need and will need in the season. They’re going to help me to be [better] in my job behind the plate calling games.”
While the Red Sox will make sure not to over-work Vázquez, he won’t ever ask Cora for a day off.
“I don't help the team on the bench,” said Vázquez. “That's the pride I take every day, I go to the ballpark, and I'm in the lineup. I want to be there. So this is some pride. I like to be on the field. I don't want to be on the bench, brother, I like to be in the lineup every day. Why not take charge every day behind the plate, help my pitchers, help block all the balls? It's a pride inside me.”
Flashback: ‘Tek catches bullpen sessions
You might have thought you were in a 2007 time warp if you happened to see Red Sox coach Jason Varitek catching bullpen sessions during Friday’s workout.
“He has seniority, so he was in the cage, you know, in the shadow,” said Cora. “So, for him, the willingness for him to do anything for us, that’s what makes him special and I'm glad that he's with us as a coach.”
Though Varitek has been a constant presence around the Red Sox the past several years, this is his first season on the Major League staff. His title is game planning coordinator.
During Cora’s four-year stint as a player with the Red Sox, Varitek was the team captain.
“He’s still the captain,” Cora said. “He walks around, and there’s a presence about him. Just like [Dustin] Pedroia, this is a guy that when he talks, people listen. I’m glad that he’s here with me. He’s been here with me the whole time, and I think this experience is going to help him out for the future.”
Cora: 'Best day so far'
While days at Spring Training tend to run into one another, particularly before the games start, Cora was beaming after Friday’s workout.
“I’ve got to be honest with you, today was one of those days I envisioned in the offseason. This is why I’m back. That was awesome,” Cora said. “You had machines everywhere; we were working on a lot of stuff. It was gratifying, to be honest with you. I was like, ‘Wow, this is cool.’ This is what we worked together on in the offseason, to have days like this. I’m going to tell the group that was the best day of Spring Training so far. And we’ve been solid so far, but today was amazing. It was cool to see.”