Boston Red Sox
“Just really feeling grateful to get to play this game.”
Chad Tracy was well aware of Adley Rutschman’s stat line with Boston entering Monday’s series opener against the Diamondbacks.
Rutschman didn’t need a reminder.
The Red Sox paid a steep price to pry the 28-year-old catcher away from an AL East rival in Baltimore earlier this month, parting with Carlos Narvaez and four promising prospects — including both of Boston’s top pitching talents within the system, Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon.
But, be it the lingering effects of a nagging wrist injury or the added pressure of stepping into a playoff race in a market like Boston, the initial returns on Rutschman were disheartening, to say the least.
Ahead of his first home game at Fenway Park, Rutschman was batting just .059 in his first five games with Boston. He whiffed nine times across those 17 at-bats.
As discouraging as those initial stats might be, Tracy preached patience with Boston’s new catcher.
“I think you’ve got to give it time,” Tracy said Monday ahead of Boston’s game against the Diamondbacks. “Not only is it the timing aspect … but, you know, [a] new city in a pennant race. New teammates. Like there’s a lot, there’s a lot to it. I think he’s fit in great. I think he’s done a nice job behind the plate. He’s leading our staff, and I think the hitting will come. But it’s not just — insert player here and he’s going to hit four home runs in the first week.”
Rather, Rutschman just needed another week — and some home cooking — to start swatting pitches into the grandstand seats.
It should come as little surprise that Boston’s resurgence at the plate against Arizona (20 total runs in back-to-back wins on Monday and Tuesday) has coincided with Rutschman settling in with his new club.
After going 2-for-5 with an RBI double in Monday’s 11-1 win against the D-Backs, Rutschman drove in three runs in Tuesday’s 9-4 victory — headlined by his first career home run with Boston.
“Not a great visual coming out of that thing,” Rutschman said of his first experience donning the Wally head after his big fly. “And it doesn’t smell that bad. I promise.”
After initially getting propped up in the No. 3 spot in Boston’s lineup last week, Rutschman has offered more value batting fifth behind the Red Sox’ 1-2 punch of Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras.
The added stability that Rutschman provides behind that duo as a switch-hitting menace with both power and strong on-base skills was put on display right from the start of Tuesday’s game.
After Contreras fanned with the bases loaded and no outs for Boston in the first, Rutschman made Arizona starter Merrill Kelly pay — smacking a low changeup into right field for a two-run single.
Even after Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez surrendered Boston’s lead via a Gabriel Moreno grand slam in the top of the third inning, Rutschman helped deliver the Red Sox’ retort in the bottom of the frame.
Kelly’s attempt to sneak a high fastball past Rutschman didn’t fare much better in his second meeting with the Red Sox catcher. The rising pitch was stung — exploding 107 miles off of Rutschman’s bat and sailing high over Pesky’s Pole for a game-tying solo shot.
Rutschman’s homer was one of two runs Boston secured in the third, with Caleb Durbin scoring from third off a wild pitch — giving the Red Sox a lead it would not relinquish for the rest of the night.
“I mean, all the momentum on our side, and then you’re two outs, nobody on, it’s still there, and then that happens,” Tracy said of Moreno’s grand slam and Boston’s response. “And to come back and punch back like you said was important, and we continued that on from there.”
Adding more pop from the catcher’s position was one of the top mandates for Craig Breslow ahead of the deadline — and a justification for the hefty price Boston ultimately paid to acquire Rutschman.
At the time Boston struck the deal with Baltimore, Boston’s catching tandem of Narvaez and Connor Wong combined for just a .219 batting average and four total home runs at that position.
Add in Rutschman’s plus defensive game and established acumen when it comes to working with a pitching staff, and the veteran’s presence is starting to become evident on an already strong Red Sox roster.
It’s an impact that should continue to get stronger as the Red Sox catcher continues to find his footing with his new team.
“I think it’s just a lot of appreciation,” Rutschman said of his reaction from his first two home games at Boston’s ballpark. “The game of baseball, there’s such a finite amount of time that guys always talk about — [and] appreciating the moments and the fact that your career goes quickly.
“I think just taking a step back just to understand how fortunate to be able to be in a position where I’m able to play this game. Just with all the stuff that’s been happening over the last two days with The Jimmy Fund — just really feeling grateful to get to play this game.”
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