SAN DIEGO — The Boston Red Sox were out of playoff contention, playing out the string this past September, when a veteran scout showed up several hours before first pitch and noticed their All-Star shortstop, Xander Bogaerts, a longtime favorite of this scout's.
"He's out there three or four hours before the game, working on the basics of fielding drills," said the scout. "He's a great player who wants to be great. He's uber-talented. And, he's wired so right."
The Padres can't know how Boegarts, 30, will hold up physically in the years ahead. He's shown rare consistency as a hitter, posting eight above-average seasons in 10 years since debuting with Boston at age 20.
