This Sox utility player broke out at Classic
This story was excerpted from Ian Browne’s Red Sox Beat e-newsletter. To learn the total e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it commonly in your inbox.
One of the perfect components of the World Baseball Classic is that it could possibly make names out of gamers you may not have heard a lot about up to now.
Take utility participant Yu Chang, who will make his means again to Fort Myers, Fla., this week to rejoin his Red Sox after successful MVP in Pool A on the power of his breakout offensive efficiency for Chinese Taipei.
In his scorching four-game run within the WBC, Chang went 7-for-16 with two doubles, two homers (together with a grand slam) and eight RBIs. All 5 groups in Pool A went 2-2. Chinese Taipei bought eradicated because of tiebreakers. Chang couldn’t have carried out extra to assist his staff’s trigger.
Who may have seen such an offensive eruption coming from a participant primarily identified for his protection?
When the Red Sox signed Chang to a one-year Major League contract on Feb. 16, there was little in the way in which of a buzz.
Chang was initially claimed off waivers by Boston from Tampa Bay on Sept. 12, 2022, giving him three weeks on the roster on the finish of a forgettable season. Chang had simply three hits in his 26 plate appearances with Boston. It was the conclusion of a well-traveled yr through which Chang suited up for the Guardians, Pirates, Rays and Red Sox, notching a .624 OPS in 141 plate appearances.
What did Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora see from Chang in his WBC efficiency that would result in him turning into an improved offensive participant this season?
“He looks stronger, a lot stronger,” Cora stated.
The Red Sox haven’t seen Chang in particular person since they re-signed him. Due to his dedication to play within the World Baseball Classic, it didn’t make sense for Chang to fly throughout continents to Fort Myers, solely to return to his native Taiwan for the worldwide showcase match.
There is a backstory that made Chang’s big WBC much more intriguing. Chang initially declined to play within the WBC as a result of he was centered on securing a job with an MLB staff. But there was backlash.
An article in Focus Taiwan identified that Taiwan typically exempts the nation’s high athletes from serving their obligatory navy service in change for competing for the nationwide staff in worldwide competitions.
Under the unique settlement Chang made, he was required to play within the 2019 Asian Baseball Championship and different high worldwide baseball occasions for the following 5 years.
Two days after saying he wouldn’t play within the WBC, the 27-year-old Chang reversed course, then flourished within the match.
Now, he’ll head again to the Red Sox in hopes that his offensive outburst in Taiwan can be one thing he can construct on.
