Mookie Betts will be the Opening Day center fielder for the Boston Red Sox.
It’s not official, of course. Manager John Farrell hasn’t said it. But that must be the outcome of Boston’s spring outfield derby, based on Betts’ impressive 2014 debut, strong performance this spring (6-for-15), overall energy he brings to the team and potential as a charismatic, homegrown superstar for the franchise.
Count Yankees manager Joe Girardi among Betts’ many admirers.
“He’s an exciting player,” Girardi said after the 22-year-old went 3-for-4 against the Yankees Wednesday. “The fact that he’s a young man who made the adjustment from the infield to go to the outfield, I thought he played a pretty good center field — and wherever they put him last year.
“His at-bats are consistent. He hits the ball hard. He’s a good player.”
The Red Sox signed center fielder Rusney Castillo to a $72.5 million contract last August, but that was before they knew exactly what they had in Betts — a natural infielder who has transitioned to the outfield because the team has Dustin Pedroia at second base.
Castillo, 27, has scarcely played this spring because of an oblique injury and soon may become one of the richest players ever in the Triple-A International League.
