Entering the 2022 campaign, Christian Vázquez was at a crossroads. The Boston Red Sox catcher had one year left on his deal with no extension in place. However, that uncertainty has not been an issue for the second longest-tenured player on the current roster. As the Red Sox emerge as one of the hottest teams in baseball, Vázquez has provided a reminder of what he means to this team.
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Through 151 at-bats, Vázquez has been on fire. The Puerto Rican native is hitting .270 with 12 extra-base hits. After finishing the 2021 campaign with 49 runs batted in, he already has 24 in 2022. He has been a catalyst offensively and continued to come through in clutch situations. While he is excelling at the plate, Vazquez is returning to form defensively.
So far this season, the former top prospect has only recorded three errors in 372.1 innings behind the dish. He has also terrorized baserunners by throwing out 13 of 20 would-be base-stealers. That has been a welcoming sign for the Red Sox after Vázquez posted the lowest caught-stealing percentage of his career last season. With Vázquez’s future full of uncertainty, he has been in vintage form.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER BIG CHRISTIAN VAZQUEZ HIT! #RedSox | #DirtyWater pic.twitter.com/a7hhh66mC6
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) June 12, 2022
Despite a slow start, Vázquez has been one of Boston’s most productive bats. In his last 30 games, the Red Sox backstop has 20 runs batted in. So far this season, he already has nine multi-hit games and consistently provides a spark regardless of his place in the lineup. Through the first three months of the 2022 campaign, he has a .314 OBP, which is the third highest of his career.
Vázquez is Stepping Up When Needed Most
As the Red Sox look to climb in the standings, Vázquez will be a crucial piece. The former 292nd overall pick has been clutch at the plate and stellar defensively. While he has gotten off to a slow start in June, the veteran backstop has been able to limit his strikeouts. As the Red Sox offense has been on a tear, Vázquez has been critical to their success.
Although the season is far from over, the Bayamón native is on pace to have one of his best seasons offensively. He has only reached the 30-RBI mark three times in his career and has plenty of time to reach that milestone. Despite potential free agency on the horizon, Vázquez is in the midst of an impressive 2022 campaign.
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