Though early-season statistics can be skewed, those registered by Red Sox young shortstop Xander Bogaerts in 2015 compared to the numbers he recorded last year jump off the page. And there are several reasons for it.
Bogaerts sweetened his stat line to .395/.452/.474 with a 2-for-4 performance Friday night, which included a game-winning single that made him the youngest Boston player to slam a walk-off hit since Jim Rice in 1975. Not bad considering he batted just .240 with a .297 on-base percentage a in 2014.
Among the reasons for his surge has been opposite-field hitting. He has hit more line drives and fly balls to right and with greater success, MLB.com is reporting. He hit .218 on balls hit to right a year ago, but is 6-for-13 going that way this season.
But perhaps the most significant improvement has been in regard to patience and discipline. John Farrell has certainly noticed.
"He's just been a little more relaxed at the plate, letting the ball travel a little bit deeper in the strike zone," Farrell said. "It's allowed him to use the whole field a little bit more, which is more the norm of what he's always been as a hitter. He's in a confident place right now."