Xander Bogaerts is lone bright spot in dismal Red Sox season

The Boston Red Sox have faced a lot of trouble this season, but shortstop Xander Bogaerts has become one of the team’s few bright spots. 

The Boston Red Sox have endured many unexpected hurdles this season and have fallen to the bottom of the AL East standings, a spot they’ve only finished in once over the past six seasons. It’s been easy to lose hope for Boston, but shortstop Xander Bogaerts offers a silver lining that remains one of the few reasons to keep cheering for the Red Sox.

Bogaerts, who made his MLB debut with Boston in 2013 and has played with them ever since, currently has the best batting average in the American League (.317). He also has the best fWAR among all shortstops in the league (5.7) and has the eighth-best among all positions.

This comes after three slow months for Bogaerts, who has played with an injured wrist and shoulder since May 20. Bogaerts only hit three home runs between June 1 and July 31, followed by four through the month of August.

That being said, Bogaerts is still in the running for the AL batting title, and he could potentially win the AL batting title by the end of the regular season.

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts could win the AL batting title

Bogaerts has been one of the most reliable players in Boston all season, but he’s especially heating up this month. Over five games in September, he’s hit .524/.565/.667.

According to

Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com

, manager Alex Cora said of Bogaerts, “For him, a grind is hitting .300. For me, the grind was hitting .230 for 13 years. That was tough. When they complain about that stuff, like ‘I’m grinding,’ I say, ‘You’re hitting .300, bro.’ Hit .220 or .198 and that’s a grind.”

If Bogaerts continues on the pace he’s on this season, he’ll certainly be one of the best contenders for the AL batting title. He’s been in close competition with Minnesota Twins infielder Luis Arraez all season, but Bogaerts could easily end up topping the list by the season’s end.