Stewart: How I’d build the 2023 Boston Red Sox starting lineup
As a 30 plus year fan of baseball and someone who has been blessed to be around a number of very knowledgeable baseball people, I have a certain way of…
Feb 25, 2023; North Port, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora against the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park. Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsAs a 30 plus year fan of baseball and someone who has been blessed to be around a number of very knowledgeable baseball people, I have a certain way of building a starting line up. I believe in the idea of identifying your best on base hitter and having him lead off (Kevin Youkilis), having your best hitter and power hitter bat third and forth in the line up (Ortiz and Manny), ideally having left / right balance one through nine in the order. I think this line up checks those boxes and gives a player like Adam Duvall the best chance to see better pitches by hitting in front of Devers with the hope being that Duvall can hit 30 or more home runs this season.
1B Triston Casas
Elsa/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: Triston Casas #36 of the Boston Red Sox reacts to the loss to the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 24, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-5. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
CF Adam Duvall
Jul 12, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Adam Duvall (14) hits a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
3B Rafael Devers
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 14: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox watches the ball after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning at Fenway Park on August 14, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
DH Justin Turner
Feb 15, 2023; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Justin Turner (2) participates in spring training workouts at Fenway South Player Development Complex. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
LF Masataka Yoshida
Megan Briggs/Getty ImagesFORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Masataka Yoshida #7 of the Boston Red Sox at bat against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2023 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
SS Kiké Hernández
Winslow Townson/Getty ImagesBOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 3: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox watches his game tying RBI double against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning at Fenway Park on October 3, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
RF Alex Verdugo
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY SportsMay 26, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo (99) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Chicago White Sox during the seventh inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
2B Christian Arroyo
Oct 10, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Christian Arroyo (39) reacts after hitting a double against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eleventh inning in game three of the 2021 ALDS at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
C Reese McGuire
Sep 13, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire (3) hits a home run during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
P Corey Kluber
Jim Rassol-USA TODAY SportsFeb 28, 2023; Jupiter, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) pitches in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
