Spring training is underway, and while most eyes are on roster battles and early bullpen sessions, there’s been a quirky trend catching attention across Major League Baseball: players showing up to camp with gear that doesn’t quite match their new uniforms.
Christian Arroyo arrived at Mets camp still hauling his old Red Sox equipment bag. Luke Weaver, now with a new club, showed up with a Yankees-branded bag. Even Marcus Semien, well-established with the Rangers, was spotted with gear that made it look like he hadn’t unpacked since last October.
It’s not a big deal-just one of those little spring training oddities that remind us baseball’s back. But in Boston, a couple of veterans made sure they wouldn’t be part of that mix-up.
Willson Contreras, acquired from the Cardinals back in December, didn’t leave anything to chance. Before even setting foot in Fort Myers, he asked for his new Red Sox equipment bag to be shipped to him in advance.
That’s a pro move from a guy who knows how to make a smooth transition. Meanwhile, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who just signed a one-year deal with the Sox this week, took matters into his own hands-literally-by purchasing a fresh bag himself.
These might seem like small details, but they speak to the kind of professionalism Boston is bringing into camp this year. Contreras is expected to help stabilize a first base situation that’s been, frankly, a revolving door of inconsistency in recent seasons. His defensive presence and availability could be a major upgrade, and the Red Sox are counting on him to bring some much-needed reliability to the corner.
As for Kiner-Falefa, he’s positioned to be a key utility piece, particularly as a late-game defensive replacement. His versatility around the infield gives Boston flexibility, and his glove-first reputation could earn him plenty of innings even if he’s not penciled into the starting lineup every day.
So while some players are still figuring out where their new cleats go in the clubhouse, Contreras and Kiner-Falefa are already settling in-and doing it with the kind of attention to detail that tends to show up when the games start to count.