Alex Verdugo has seen his fair share of criticism, but he’s finally tapping into his full potential for the Red Sox

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In this case, the reward came with a small bobble from Seattle second baseman Kolten Wong. Verdugo narrowly beat the throw to reach on an error. Castillo immediately had to come out of the stretch and was on his heels. The Red Sox quickly capitalized with a four-point lightning strike in the first to take a 4-0 lead.

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Dugey immediately put the pressure on the opposition and set the tempo of the game, moving his behind to the front row, noted Sox manager Alex Cora.

But the Sox bats quickly fell silent, enduring an 0-for-11 streak that allowed the Mariners to tie the game, 4-4. But late in the fifth, Verdugo revived the Red Sox formation by slamming a double against the left wall for a double to kick off a three-run inning that propelled the Sox to a comfortable 9-4 victory.

The Verdugos 2-for-4 day, which also included a walk and the critical error hit, resulting in three runs scored, was not the highlight of the Sox’s victory. But it speaks to the consistency he brought to the Sox, both in his efforts and his results, as a tone-setter at the top of the order.

Verdugo is hitting .303/.378/.491 with 35 runs scored, tied for third in baseball. Still, while the numbers capture a strong performance through 43 games, Verdugo recognizes they are the product of a change in both his fitness and his commitment to the game this year.

Verdugo has had plenty of opportunities to falter this season. Nick Grace/Getty

In 2022, Verdugo suggested he could have been absent from the opening game of the game.

I’m just in better shape, he admitted. Last year I was a bit heavier. And then in the first series here against Minnesota, I fractured [right big toe on a foul ball]. I really insisted a lot. So this year I just trained differently, I got slimmer, I just did a lot more legs and a lot more running. So now I just feel like it’s just easier to do. It’s easier to sprint.

This improvement in fitness manifested itself in the form of a faster player (his sprint speed, as measured by Statcast, improved from the 38th to the 52nd percentile) and improved field play, where he ranks as one of the best right fielders in the game after recording below average defensive numbers on the left in 2022.

Health has been a key driver of Verdugo’s improved performance, but the outfielder (who turned 27 on Monday) also suggests that after years of doubting his maturity and commitment, he’s being pressured to silence those doubts.

At the end of last season, Cora publicly identified Verdugo as a player who hadn’t played to his full potential. The suggestion fueled Verdugo during the offseason.

I want to show people, Hey, I work hard, I run hard. I play the tough game, Verdugo said. [Coras assessment] was right [expletive] that ignited a fire in me. I don’t like any type of negative thing where people think I could do more. So I just said, fuck it. This year, I’m just going to bring it. Whether the results are there or not, we can control how we work. We can control how we hustle. For me, it was just kind of a conscious thing in the offseason.

Moving into the first place has contributed to this development. There, Verdugo found it easy to focus on team-centric bats exposing a mix of starting pitch, putting himself in the heart of the command.

Verdugo’s determination to become a more dedicated player was also felt behind closed doors. His teammates have spoken of his increasingly vocal role in pregame batting meetings, describing him as both the primary voice for left-handed hitters in planning the game for opposing pitchers and as someone who encouraged a similar commitment from his teammates.

It’s all part of what Verdugo and other Red Sox members describe, throughout the first month and a half of the season, as evidence of growth at a time when Verdugo has turned questions about unrealized potential into proof of production.

What does he think of the 2023 version of himself?

I love that, man. Really, said Verdugo. When you work hard, when you play hard, and when you go about it the right way, it leaves out all kinds of unnecessary talk. I think it’s my biggest thing to do the right things, check the boxes I need to, and be ready for the first pitch in every game.

Alex Speier can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @alexspeier.

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