Over the last few weeks, the Boston Red Sox have been one of the worst teams in baseball. While Boston has gone 7-10 in August, one bright spot has been Kyle Schwarber. The 28-year-old was acquired at the trade deadline and has appeared in six games for the Red Sox. So far in his brief stint, the Ohio native is making an excellent first impression.
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Through Schwarber’s first six games with Boston, he is hitting .375. In 22 plate appearances, he has six hits and has forced six walks. Although Schwarber has yet to hit a home run, he has shown excellent plate discipline and posted a .910 OPS. Since making his Red Sox debut on August 13, the former first-round pick has reached base in every game. In a Red Sox lineup that has been inconsistent, Schwarber has been the exception.
Despite missing most of July, Schwarber has picked up where he left off. The veteran outfielder batted .280 in June before a hamstring injury limited him to four at-bats in July. Over the next month, the Red Sox will need Schwarber to stay hot as they look to secure a playoff spot. The Indiana product is known for his power, but his ability to get on base has stood out during his first two weeks in Boston.
Kyle Schwarber has impressed at the plate so far with the #RedSox.
5 Games
.462/.611/.682/1.303
3 2B
16.7% K%
27.8% BB%
252 wRC+He currently has a 0.3 fWAR since being dealt, which is higher than Anthony Rizzo’s 0.2 mark with the #Yankees.#DirtyWaterpic.twitter.com/ldgVHz8ENM
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) August 21, 2021
Expectations for Schwarber
While Schwarber has excelled offensively, his versatility will be on display over the next month. The former Washington National has only played in the outfield during his career but will see some time at first base. When asked about how playing time will be divided between Travis Shaw, Bobby Dalbec, and Schwarber, Alex Cora told the media,” “It’s up to us to get the right matchups and the right combinations out there to win ballgames. The more, the better, right? Having Dalbec swing the bat well, now Travis on the left side, and having Kyle is not a problem. It’s a blessing. ”
Although Boston has many options at first, Schwarber will often see his name in the lineup. He has already hit 25 home runs this year and rebounded from a rough 2020 campaign. His power and playoff experience will be crucial down the stretch for a Red Sox offense in need of a spark. When the Red Sox return to action on Monday, Schwarber will be looking to build on his impressive start in Boston.
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