John Farrell has expressed support for Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts despite monumental struggles at the plate. The manager is planning to keep Bogaerts in the lineup.
"The one message we've been very strong and clear on is that we're committed to him," Farrell told the Providence Journal. "The one thing that we have to do is be consistent with him. He feels and senses the positive view of him. That is a long-term player for us, and we're not going to abandon someone because there's some growing pains along the way."
Bogaerts owned a .395 on-base percentage and .464 slugging percentage after more than 200 plate appearances. But he is hitting a disturbing .110 with a .151 OBP in his last 106 plate appearances with 29 strikeouts and just four walks. He has been flailing away at pitches out of the zone and has been dropped to ninth in the batting order.