Mazz: At this stage of his career, Bogaerts is now an X-factor

May 1, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) is greeted in the dugout after scoring during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

By Tony Massarotti, 98.5 The Sports Hub

Xander Bogaerts played the 1,000th game of his Red Sox career yesterday, which in and of itself is nothing more than a cute bit of trivia. What should interest you far more right now is the way he is playing, which is to say that you may never see him any better than he is right now.

And what he is right now is MVP-caliber.

Don’t misunderstand. We’re not saying that Bogaerts is the MVP of the 2021 American League season, because it’s way too early for that. What we are saying is that his level of play at the moment is positively stratospheric, which warrants your attention for an assortment of reasons, beginning with …

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000th game 1 Alex Cora Boston Red Sox consistency Defense future MVP Offense OPS patrice bergeron professionalism xander bogaerts

Tony MassarottiEditor

Tony Massarotti is the co-host of the number 1 afternoon-drive show, Felger & Mazz, on 98.5 The Sports Hub. He is a lifelong Bostonian who has been covering sports in Boston for the last 20 years. Tony worked for the Boston Herald from 1989-2008. He has been twice voted by his peers as the Massachusetts sportswriter of the year (2000, 2008) and has authored five books, including the New York times best-selling memoirs of David Ortiz, entitled “Big Papi.” A graduate of Waltham High School and Tufts University, he lives in the Boston area with his wife, Natalie, and their two sons. Tony is also the host of The Baseball Hour, which airs Monday to Friday 6pm-7pm right before most Red Sox games from April through October. The Baseball Hour offers a full inside look at the Boston Red Sox, the AL East, and all top stories from around the MLB (Major League Baseball).