Red Sox Players With Most to Prove for Rest of 2022 Season
The Boston Red Sox have been one of the hottest teams in baseball over the past month, clawing their way back from a rocky start to again look like a viable contender for a postseason spot.
That said, there are still a number of question marks on the roster, and there are more than a few individual players who will need to prove themselves in the coming weeks and months.
Whether it's an underperforming or injured star, an upcoming free agent or a breakout performer at a key position who needs to maintain his current level of production, there are many reasons a player might have something to prove.
Ahead, we've highlighted three such names on the Red Sox roster.
CF Jarren Duran
1 of 3
With Enrique Hernandez on the injured list due to a strained hip flexor, Jarren Duran is getting another opportunity to prove he's ready to take over as the everyday center fielder.
The 25-year-old is hitting .303/.378/.485 with seven runs scored and two steals in nine big league games, and he has been penciled into the leadoff spot in the order in six of the team's last seven games.
Hernandez was hitting just .209/.273/.340 in 238 plate appearances before he landed on the injured list, leaving the Red Sox without a productive leadoff hitter.
If Duran can be that guy, it would allow the team to move Hernandez back into the super-utility role where he thrived during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
RHP Tanner Houck
2 of 3
The Red Sox have turned to young right-hander Tanner Houck to try to solidify what has been a revolving door in the closer's role this year.
The team tallied 14 blown saves in 25 opportunities to start the year before Houck nailed down his first save of the season on June 10, and he's gone a perfect 5-for-5 on save chances after nailing down another one on Monday.
The 25-year-old began the year as a popular breakout candidate in the starting rotation, but with Garrett Whitlock shifting into a starter's role and veterans Michael Wacha and Rich Hill both pulling their weight alongside breakout ace Nick Pivetta, he has become more valuable to the team in a relief role.
If Houck can bring stability to the ninth inning the rest of the way, it would go a long way in bolstering the entire bullpen.
RHP Michael Wacha
3 of 3
After posting a 5.11 ERA in 285.1 innings over the last three seasons, including a 5.05 ERA in 124.2 innings with the Tampa Bay Rays last year, little was expected of Michael Wacha when he signed a one-year, $7 million deal during the offseason.
Still only 30 years old, the former All-Star is enjoying a nice career resurgence with a 2.28 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 59.1 innings. He also threw his first complete game shutout since 2017 last month.
The question now is whether he can keep it up.
His 3.97 FIP speaks to some likely regression to come, and he's also had a tough time staying healthy over the years, but he has become an invaluable member of the Red Sox rotation.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and accurate through Tuesday's games.
.png?w=256)
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
