Throughout his ten-year career, first baseman C.J Cron has been known to be a home run threat when he’s at the plate. After dominating throughout the 2022 campaign, so much so that he gained his first all-star nod, his production levels in 2023 dropped off. Now a free agent, Cron has been looking for a team to maximize his capabilities, especially regarding being at the plate. C.J. has signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox today. Even at 34, the 2022 NL all-star will look to revamp his career at this late stage.
2022 NL All-Star Signs Minor League Deal With Boston
Red Sox in agreement with CJ Cron, per source.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) March 1, 2024
The Red Sox are adding C.J. Cron, a 2022 All-Star who will challenge Bobby Dalbec for the Opening Day roster, on a minor league deal:https://t.co/dP5EV18QFY
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) March 1, 2024
Cron’s best pitch to hit during the 2023 season was a cutter. Against the cutter, Cron had a .364 batting average and a slugging percentage of 1.000. C.J. only struck out eight percent of the time out of 88 cutters thrown against him in 2023. The 2022 NL all-star’s most challenging pitch was a changeup. Cron’s batting average was .211 against the changeup. He whiffed at the pitch 29 percent of the time and struck out 21 percent of the time. C.J. had a .429 batting average against a sweeper, but with two strikes, he struck out 50 percent of the time against the sweeper. During the 2024 season, Cron must be more effective at the plate when seeing off-speed and breaking ball pitches.
Cron’s 2023 and Lifetime Stats
C.J. played 71 games with both the Rockies and the Angels in 2023. In 258 at-bats, Cron recorded 64 hits, 12 home runs, and 37 runs batted in. He finished the season with a .238 batting average. The 2022 NL all-star’s best game last season was on April 30th against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cron went three for five with a home run and four runs batted in during a 12-4 victory. He was great in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays when he smashed a career-high 30 home runs—his best statistical season, though, had to be in 2022. During this season, C.J. had 148 hits, 29 home runs, and 102 RBI, with a .257 batting average. 2023 was a drop-off from his numbers in 2022, but the Red Sox hope that Cron can turn things around.
Main Photo Credits: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
