Xander Bogaerts is the one who can make Mookie Betts’ loss to Boston forget

When Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts made their debut with the Red Sox in the 2014-15 season, the future looked very bright in Boston. Mookie Betts was a very talented player who played very energetically.

Xander Bogaerts was also a talented player, but not as much as Betts. Bogaerts had a bright future in MLB, but many believed he would become a contact-only player.

While Betts is no longer with the team, Bogaerts becomes, in the shadows, one of the best hitters in the MLB. Since the start of the season, the shortstop has been hitting for .378 (ahead of this afternoon’s game) and already has three homers to his credit.

The comparison between him and Mookie Betts is therefore acceptable.

Both righties have a lot of batting power and have a very big impact in their respective teams. If Betts is already recognized as an elite player in the league, Bogaerts will become so (if he isn’t already) very soon.

Additionally, the Sox protégé has maintained higher stats than Mookie Betts since the 2019 season, but no one seems to be talking about it.

Rare are the occasions when Bogaerts is foiled by a pitch. He is often in a good position to hit the ball, even if the ball is a few inches outside the strike zone. In fact, he hit a home run the other night against the Blue Jays with a ball to the ankles.

I don’t know how he gets to hit them sometimes. We’re talking about momentum and getting into position to hit the ball in the air. Well, he hits the ball in the air in a different way. It’s more like an old school moose. You have to put your hands up and get on top of the ball. But he’s so strong he can hit anything. There are no limits when he can go up there and I think there are no limits when he takes an inside pitch either.

Alex Cora

Anyway, he’s not at Mookie Betts’ level yet, as the Dodgers outfielder is quite a defensive player as well, but if Bogaerts continues to improve, there’s no doubt in my mind that he will forget the loss of Betts in Boston.

• Two pitchers placed on the injured list in Milwaukee.