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NEW YORK — Just a month ago, Anthony Seigler was an unknown commodity in the world of the Red Sox. Acquired as the third piece coming to Boston in the six-player trade that sent Kyle Harrison to Milwaukee for Caleb Durbin in mid-February, Seigler flew well under the radar as the Red Sox flopped in the first three months of the season.
Seigler, a former Yankees first round pick who got his first taste of the majors with a 34-game debut in Milwaukee last year, arrived to spring training with a knee issue after the trade and didn’t get into a game by the time camp ended. He spent the first two weeks of the regular season in Fort Myers building up for an eventual assignment to Triple-A Worcester. In April, he struggled at the plate and looked like nothing more than a low-on-the-depth-chart player toward the bottom of Boston’s 40-man roster.
After a strong May at the plate for the WooSox, Seigler was called up to the Red Sox for the first time on June 3 but got just four at-bats before being sent down six days later. On June 20, with de facto starting second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa heading to the injured list, Seigler was called upon again, this time joining the team in Seattle. In the three weeks since, the 27-year-old hasn’t looked back.
Seigler started Friday’s win over Mets by taking second base when his line drive glanced off Juan Soto’s glove. Later, he broke the game open with a two-run homer off A.J. Minter in the seventh. The Red Sox have won seven in a row and 12 of their last 14 and, out of nowhere, Seigler has been right in the middle of it.
“He’s been a huge lift,” said interim manager Chad Tracy. “He has been huge for us.”
At the beginning of the season, Seigler — who played both second base and third base for the WooSox — found himself behind Marcelo Mayer, Caleb Durbin, Kiner-Falefa, Andruw Monasterio and Nick Sogard on the depth chart. The Red Sox even preferred having three catchers on the roster over calling up Seigler when they rode the hot hand of Mickey Gasper for a few weeks in May. Now, though, things have changed significantly — and Seigler has run with the opportunity.
Since June 20, Seigler has started 18 of 19 games at second base for the Red Sox, leading off on 10 occasions (including the last six games). He has produced steady defense at second and brought constant energy with a fiery, electric play style. But most importantly, he has hit.
Including his 2-for-5 showing Friday, Seigler is hitting .292 with two homers, six doubles, a .477 slugging percentage and an .855 OPS so far. Needless to say, he has exceeded any and all expectations.
“Every day’s a grind,” Seigler said modestly. “I’m just trying to put myself in a good spot to where everybody else behind me can succeed.”
Friday night was an example of what Seigler has brought to the Red Sox since his promotion. After a 24-hour travel delay that forced the Red Sox to arrive at Citi Field just over two hours before the scheduled first pitch time, the infielder delivered almost immediately. On a 1-1 pitch from righty Nolan McLean, Seigler smacked an opposite-field liner that left the bat at 94 mph. Soto cruised toward it but had it deflect off his glove as Seigler kept running and reached second. He would later score on Masataka Yoshida’s two-out, two-run double.
In the seventh, Seigler gave the Red Sox some breathing room when he stayed on a Minter cutter and laced it off the foul pole in left. He beat his chest, screamed “Let’s go” and was quite animated throughout his second-ever trip around the bases as a big leaguer.
“I was just excited to get a good pitch to hit and have it clear the fence,” Seigler said. “I was just trying to get around the bases and celebrate with my teammates.”
Seigler admitted that the home run was particularly satisfying because it came from the right side. A lifelong switch-hitter (and switch-thrower, too), Seigler had abandoned hitting from the right side while with the Brewers last season. A couple weeks back, he asked the Red Sox if he could go back to hitting right-handed and they acquiesced.
On Friday, it looked like a good call.
“It does (mean more), but a home run is a home run whether it’s from the left side or the right side,” Seigler said.
Added Tracy: “Been pleasantly surprising to see the at-bats from the right-handed side that he just reinvigorated a couple weeks ago when he went down in Tampa.”
With Mayer and Kiner-Falefa nowhere near returning, the second base position appears to be Seigler’s for the long haul. He’ll continue to bring the fire — and some of the best at-bats the Red Sox have gotten from the leadoff spot all year.
“I’m gonna just stay the same every day,” he said. “I know I have that persona, which is fine. I’m never going to try to do too much, but I’m obviously going to bring a good amount of energy every day.”
More Red Sox coverage
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- Red Sox’ hellish travel day included multiple delays, intercom All-Star nod, pitcher having 5-donut breakfast
- Red Sox game delayed 35 minutes due to flight issues (+ lineups, TV channel & more)
- Red Sox flight troubles leave team scrambling to get to Citi Field on time for game
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