The Red Sox have struggled mightily this season; going into the All-Star break the Red Sox are sitting last in the AL East, a surprising position considering the roster they boast. Not much has gone well for Sox Nation this season; one bright spot, however, has been second year shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Bogaerts is hitting .304/.338/.411 going into the All-Star break and has been the best and most consistent player for the Red Sox all season. Unfortunately for fans of baseball, perhaps the best shortstop in all of baseball won’t be at the 2015 All-Star game in Cincinnati.
Xander Bogaerts: All-Star Snub
After impressing a national audience on the biggest stage in baseball during the 2013 World Series, Bogaerts struggled last season thanks to a midseason switch to third base and finished the season with just a .240 average and only 46 RBIs. Many even wondered after his 2014 season if Bogaerts would be able to stick at shortstop after a poor showing defensively along with his struggles at the plate. Not only has the former top prospect improved upon the player he was in the World Series and in the minors at the plate, the Sox shortstop has also been one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL this season. Bogaerts leads all AL shortstops in putouts, ranks second in range factor, and ranks third in assists, strengthening his case for a rightful spot as an AL All-Star. Along with his impressive defensive metrics, Bogaerts leads all his counterparts in hits, doubles, RBIs, and OPS, and is second in average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
Thanks to a rabid fan base, Alcides Escobar of the Kansas City Royals won the starting job at SS and although he has had a great first half (.290/.327/.372), Bogaerts has been the better player since the onset of the season, albeit for a much worse team. The only other SS on the AL roster is former Red Sox, and current Tiger, Jose Iglesias. A defensive wizard, Iglesias was an offensive liability in previous seasons but has emerged as the league leader among shortstops in average and on-base percentage. Although a Iglesias is a worthy All-Star, Bogaerts is more deserving, performing better at the plate and, surprisingly, in the field. Bogaerts has also played in several more games than Iglesias and has had 61 more at bats, showcasing his durability.
Brock Holt is the only member of the Red Sox on the All-Star team and although the utility player has enjoyed success as an everyday player this season, he didn’t deserve the selection over his teammate Bogaerts, who is leading him in almost every offensive category. Furthermore, after Alex Gordon and Jose Bautista were bitten by the injury bug they were replaced by Brian Dozier and Brett Gardner. Bogaerts should have been selected over at least Dozier. Gardner (.302/.377/.484) taking the place of a fellow outfielder makes sense, but Dozier being added as a fourth second basemen, in addition to Altuve, Kipnis, and Holt, is ridiculous considering the AL roster only has two SS and Bogaerts is enjoying a better season than Dozier, possessing a better average and on-base percentage. Dozier is a worthy All-Star for the upstart Twins, hitting 19 HRs and possessing a .513 slugging percentage, but Bogaerts should have been the first replacement player added following an injury to an All-Star and it is laughable that the Red Sox best player won’t take the field on Tuesday in Cincinnati.
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