Entering Spring Training Michael Chavis had a lot to prove. The former first-round pick was coming off a down sophomore season and has had to battle for a spot on the Opening Day roster. However, in Chavis’s third Spring Training, he has been one of Boston’s best players. With Opening Day less than two weeks away, Chavis has not made the Red Sox final roster decisions easy.
Through 35 Spring Training at-bats, Chavis is hitting .314 and has nine runs batted in. The former top prospect has also hit five home runs and is tied for the team lead. Although Chavis has a high strikeout rate, he has been able to get on base. The Georgia native has also looked more comfortable and is not get fooled by pitches that gave him problems last season. It has been a welcomed sight for the Red Sox after a forgettable 2020 campaign.
In 42 games last season, Chavis posted a .212 average and hit five home runs. After a solid rookie season, he struggled to get on base and struck out nearly a third of the time. Although strikeouts have always plagued Chavis, they were magnified last year as the Red Sox missed the playoffs. Chavis also hit fewer fly balls than in his rookie season, and he finished in the bottom half of the league in hard-hit rate. In Spring Training, he has had to show that he can improve his plate discipline.
Michael Chavis in attack mode crushing baseball into the JetBlue sky. #RedSox pic.twitter.com/lo4OCGYH6Z
— Beyond the Monster (@BeyondtheMnstr) March 20, 2021
What to expect from Chavis in 2021
When the Red Sox arrived at Fort Myers, it seemed as if Chavis had an uphill battle. His competition for the final spot is Christian Arroyo who is out of options. Unlike Arroyo, Chavis can be optioned to the minors without being exposed to waivers. Chavis, however, has not let that affect his play, and he has done everything he can to earn a spot.
The 2021 season will be Chavis’s most important year to date. The Red Sox have infield prospects such as Jeter Downs and Triston Casas, who are nearly major league-ready. Chavis will be looking to prove that he should also be part of the Club’s future. This Spring, he has provided hope that despite last year he can still be an impact bat.
While there are less than two weeks left in Spring Training, Chavis has made an impression on Chaim Bloom. Last week Chaim Bloom told the media, ” You just take one look at him, and you know he took his offseason work really seriously.” Although his future is still to be decided, Chavis has put himself in a position to have a productive 2021 season regardless of where it starts.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
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