FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts traveled the world these last few weeks, from Korea to Japan to Arizona to Los Angeles. But that long and winding road took him back to the Red Sox on Thursday, where he started at shortstop and went 1-for-4 in a 10-7 win over the Pirates.
It was the first Grapefruit League game for Bogaerts since his return from the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday night.
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Bogaerts played third base for a Netherlands squad that advanced all the way to the semifinals before a crushing ouster in 11 innings against Puerto Rico on Monday.
"It's good to be back, but I had a good time with my friends that I grew up with," said Bogaerts. "The tournament was a blast. I went over to the other side of the world and saw some nice things."
And now Bogaerts has 10 days to get re-acclimated to his main position of shortstop.
In many ways, the high-stakes environment Bogaerts played in served him well in terms of being ready for Opening Day.
"I feel pretty good," said Bogaerts. "I think I'm a bit more ahead than where I normally am, probably because those games we had to go all out. We had to be on point with them. I felt really good out there. Just going back to shortstop now is much better, though."
Aside from a two-month interlude in 2014 when he was moved to third base, this marks the fourth season Bogaerts will hold down shortstop for the Red Sox.
"He really can impact the game in a bunch of different ways," said right-hander Rick Porcello. "Bogey is playing arguably one of the most important positions on the field, and he's been doing it for a couple of years now. Not only taking the defensive responsibilities that he has, but offensively, learning the pitchers and how tough he gets pitched, he's taken it all in stride and is extremely mature about it."
As far as playing for his country, it was an experience Bogaerts was able to savor far more than in 2013, when he was 20 years old and still months away from making his Major League debut.
"This time around was much better because I was so nervous. I was so young last time," Bogaerts said. "This time I feel as more of a grown guy now, playing with all the guys I grew up with that are playing in the big leagues. Guys that I played with in the first tournament -- Andruw Jones was a player, now he's a bench coach. Being around guys like that meant a lot."