It seems to me that for much of his career Xander Bogaerts has occupied a peculiar place in the Red Sox’ galaxy of stars.
Just 26 years old, he’s just begun his sixth full season with the Red Sox, and his accomplishments are already plentiful.
He’s won a pair of Silver Slugger awards at shortstop, no easy task when a trio that also includes Houston’s Carlos Correa and Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor is poised to become the Yount-Ripken-Trammell or Rodriguez-Garciaparra-Jeter of its era.
Bogaerts finished second in the American League batting race (.320) as a 22-year-old in 2015.