Josh Reddick May Be Boston Red Sox Long-Term Answer in Right Field

Cups of coffee with the Red Sox in 2008 and 2009 didn’t amount to much success for highly touted outfield prospect Josh Reddick. He hit .181 in 56 games combined over those two seasons, filling in when J.D. Drew was injured, which was unfortunately often, and when other injuries hit the team.

It is safe to sat that he had a difficult time getting acclimated to major league pitching and the major league environment. Now, the 24-year-old appears ready for the big show, and his excellent statistics as part of baseball’s best offense back that up.

Through 28 games, he is hitting .372, including his three-hit performance in a series-opening loss against Baltimore. He has clubbed four homers, driven in 18 runs and scored 18 runs with a superb .402 on-base percentage.

This is only a small sample and it is dangerous to overreact when young players succeed in short stints, but it appears he could be in line for plenty more playing time the rest of the way.

This could be at the expense of Drew, who is struggling in what could be his final season. I feel for the 14-year veteran, whose career has certainly not gone as planned, but the Red Sox have to be realistic and understand that Reddick is his superior thus far and is far more beneficial to the team’s pleasing success.

NESN‘s Don Orsillo wrote:

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This is a guy who saw many others pass over him to Boston last year. He took a step back in the offseason and figured out what he needed to do differently and has certainly been doing whatever that is and is now a dangerous major leaguer. He is forcing the hand of Francona for more time with his play.

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There is the hope that Francona sees him as the long-term answer in right field, but does the front office?

There are rumors that Boston is interested in adding some more offense. This is a team that has Jacoby Ellsbury, former MVP Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz as the first five in the lineup. Each of these five has a batting average above .285 and an on-base percentage over .370. Yet, there is the perception general manager Theo Epstein may not be satisfied, as New York Mets veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran has been linked to the team as a potential trade partner.

The Red Sox have gone the short-term, rent-a-player route before with some success, as midseason acquisitions Victor Martinez and Jason Bay excelled in their stints with the team, but now is not the time to give up prospects or Reddick himself in hopes of upgrading.

Beltran is a fine player, finally healthy and one of the Mets' lone bright spots, but he’s not seen as just a salary dump for New York. They want top prospects in return for his bat and are willing to eat some of his salary to get who they want.

Boston is currently first in the majors in batting average, hits, runs, RBI, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. More offense would bolster an already dangerous beast, yet with as much firepower as they have, they can afford to let Reddick grow with full playing time.

“I come to the ballpark ready to play every day no matter who is throwing,” Reddick told WEEI when asked about his role, being in and out of the lineup. “That’s the choice that Tito [Francona], Theo, and those guys seem to be comfortable with…If it doesn’t happen [starting] then I prepare that way, and if get in the game late just help the team contribute any way I can.”

He has certainly contributed, and he deserves to continue to in the starter’s role he currently holds. If the team continues to trust him, they will have yet another lethal hitter to compliment their many in an effort to be baseball’s best.