The Boston Red Sox spent their offseason laser-focused on shoring up their defense, and Thursday's game gave us a glimpse of the payoff.
After leading the league in errors last season, the Red Sox knew they had to make some changes. While their outfield defense was already strong, the infield needed some serious attention.
Enter Willson Contreras and Caleb Durbin, along with Marcelo Mayer, whose glove work is now a staple in the big leagues. Even though Durbin had a hiccup with an error on opening day, Garrett Crochet noticed a marked improvement.
Crochet shared his thoughts, saying, “We came into camp knowing we were set up to tackle those challenges, whether it’s infield defense or anything else. I keep replaying the moment when Trevor Story ranged back into center to snag that pop-up. It made me think, ‘We’re looking different out here.’”
He added, “It felt like the ball was always finding a glove. On days like that, you’re just happy to keep throwing strikes.”
Despite their defensive struggles last season, the Red Sox still made the postseason. Manager Alex Cora has been vocal about his disdain for errors, making defensive improvement a top priority.
Thursday’s game showcased the Red Sox’s ability to play tight defense and win those nail-biting, low-scoring affairs. The challenge now is to maintain this level of play for the rest of the season. If they can do that, we’re in for an exciting ride.