Through the first 12 games -- or, incredibly, 20 percent -- of the Red Sox season, Alex Verdugo has been in the Red Sox starting lineup eight times, or two-thirds of the games.
Some of that was the result of Ron Roenicke is the unusually high number of lefty starting pitchers in the early going (seven of the 12 games) and Roenicke's wish to get the right-handed-hitting Kevin Pillar into the lineup as much as possible against lefties. (Pillar is the lone righty among the team's top four outfielders).
Verdugo, though in a relatively small sample size, has already demonstrated he's hardly a liability against lefties, with an .843 OPS against them last year, compared to .808 against RHP.
Still, Verdugo hadn't exactly made the case for more consistent playing time -- until Wednesday, when, with one swing, he registered his first extra-base hit, his first homer and first RBI(s) as a member of the Red Sox. His two-run homer to right off Tampa Bay lefty (!) Ryan Yarbrough provided the only backing the Red Sox need en route to a 5-0 shutout.
Verudgo was diplomatic when asked whether his irregular playing time had perhaps been a hindrance over the first two weeks.
"I always mess around with that,'' said a smiling Verdugo. "When I'm not in there against a lefty, I'm like, 'Hey Ron, just so you know, man, I can hit them.' I think he knows it, too...He's doing his job, he's doing what he has to do. (But) I take a lot of pride (in being successful) against lefties.''
With both Andrew Benintendi (.069/.289/.103) and Jackie Bradley Jr. (1-for-21) struggling mightily against both lefties and righties, it would seem there's little reason not to have Verdugo in the lineup almost daily.
The Sox have invested in Verdugo. He was the main piece in the trade that sent Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers in February and the team has (counting this year) five full years of major league control over him.
He may yet qualify as a foundational players, but at the very least, he should be a lineup regular. He's an above-average defender, an aggressive baserunner and while he's yet to manifest his full power potential (career slugging percentage: .443), the belief is that there's more to come.
Additionally, the Red Sox have no commitments to either Bradley or Pillar beyond this year. Bradley is widely seen as someone who will leave via free agency after the 2020 season and Pillar was here on a one-year deal.
If the Red Sox are -- publicly or not -- taking the long view with this season, it would behoove them to commit to Verdugo and see what kind of growth he can show.
They already know what they have in Bradley (stellar defense and maddening inconsistency at the plate). Pillar, at 31, is a highly useful platoon piece, but no one's idea of a building block.
They'd be far better served having Verdugo in the outfield most days -- against lefties or righties -- than committing playing time to two others who may not be here Sept. 1, much less next year.
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