Who’s on first? Hanley Ramirez, that’s who. With the Boston Red Sox visiting a National League ballpark that takes the designated hitter out of the lineup, Ramirez will grab a glove to field a defensive position for the first time this season.
The Red Sox transitioned Ramirez to first base last season, a year after their experiment testing him in left field ended in disaster. Most defensive metrics rated him below average, although his performance still felt adequate given the low expectations for his glove work.
The retirement of David Ortiz paved the way for Ramirez to claim his vacated DH position, which is where he’s been utilized in all 27 games he’s appeared in this season.