With Spring Training kicking off, it looks like the Boston Red Sox are trending in the right direction.
A few weeks ago, that may not have been the case, especially when it came to the infield. Things have quickly changed, though. Boston has Willson Contreras and Trevor Story planted at first base and shortstop, but second base and third base were completely up in the air. The expectation has been that Marcelo Mayer would take one of the spots, but the other was up in the air. After losing Alex Bregman, the infield has been under a microscope and Boston came out of nowhere to sign Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
The move quickly surprised Red Sox Nation, seeing how Kiner-Falefa appears to be more of a depth option, rather than an everyday fit. Since then, Boston landed Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers, which paints the Kiner-Falefa contract in a new light. Rather than having to be relied upon as an everyday second baseman or third baseman, he's going to be a super-utility man for the club.
He spoke about his role on Tuesday as camp opened and it sounds like he's fully bought in, as transcribed by Ian Browne of MLB.com.
"Bouncing all over the place, doing whatever the team needs, even if it's coming off the bench, filling in on defense late in games or any opportunity,” Kiner-Falefa said. “Even if I could play the outfield or put the catcher's gear on, I think, the versatility is just going to allow the team and [manager Alex Cora] to maneuver guys and do things that are best for the team. So I'm excited to show off the versatility.
“But I also think it's my best role. I played every day at certain spots. But I'm really excited to do what I'm best at, instead of kind of filling in [at a set position] for other organizations. So, I'm excited for the opportunity to be a true utility player.”
The Red Sox have had success over the years with super-utility guys like Brock Holt and Enrique Hernández. It sounds like Kiner-Falefa is cut from the same cloth.