The Red Sox didn’t waste any time proving they were very serious about their plan for one of the club’s elite players.
Alex Bregman will miss the Red Sox-Rays series finale Wednesday for a great reason. After leading the visitors to a win Tuesday with a five-hit performance at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Bregman flew back to Boston to be with his wife, Reagan, for the birth of their second child.
With the two-time World Series champion on paternity leave, the Red Sox on Wednesday reportedly will call up Nick Sogard for what likely will be a one-game stint, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. The move helped confirm Alex Cora doesn’t plan to stray from his strategy for the superstar who Bregman replaced at the hot corner upon arriving to Boston.
In theory, Rafael Devers occasionally filling in at third base when Bregman was unavailable would be a somewhat sensible move. Throwing on a glove every now and then could help the three-time All-Star tap into his athleticism and occupy a role he highly values. However, even before the start of the season, Cora ruled Devers out of the group of backup third basemen options. The Red Sox manager clearly wanted one of his best bats to focus on his new role as designated hitter.
And despite Bregman’s early struggles — four errors in 19 games — and Boston’s mediocre depth at the position, Cora is going to stick with his vision for Devers. There’s something to be said for managing for conviction and doing what you believe is best for the ballclub, which Cora continues to do.
