Red Sox Hitting Coach Calls For Internal Improvement From Key Bats

BOSTON — The Red Sox finished in the top-10 offensively for the seventh consecutive season in 2024.

The construction of the lineup remains a hot topic of the offseason as the Red Sox continue their quest to add another impact right-handed bat.

While that search continues, the Red Sox have an internal responsibility to take steps forward up-and-down the lineup. Boston hitting coach Pete Fatse believes that starts with the return of Trevor Story, who still seeks a healthy and complete season to boost the Red Sox.

“It’s exciting to see him back to full strength and health,” Fatse told NESN.com during “Fenway Fest” Saturday. “He’s going to be a priority for us. Making sure he comes back confident, healthy, ready to go. I think there’s multiple guys that can take steps forward.”

Fatse named Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Connor Wong as hitters Boston needs early production from to set the tone for a complete lineup early in the season. Masataka Yoshida also had a strange, injury-influenced season in 2024. Alex Cora tabbed him as one of the better left-handed hitters in the American League when healthy and Fatse backed the supporting tools.

“His ability to hit for average, power, drive the ball, put the ball in play,” Fatse said. “I think it’s a huge complement to the lineup. He’s extremely talented. We all know that. Obviously, I’m confident and our group’s confident in him.”

Triston Casas also enters the year fully healthy after an April rib injury sidelined him for the majority of the season. The Red Sox should still absolutely be doing everything in their power to add an impact right, but is it almost forgotten how much better the lineup is with Story and Casas healthy?

“Absolutely,” Fatse replied. “Trevor Story is a tremendous player. Obviously, Triston being down was a lot of thump we missed in the middle of our order for a period of time there. When they’re both healthy and playing at the capacity we think they’re capable of, it’s going to make our group much better. Obviously, they’re big parts of the group.”

A fellow Red Sox assistant coach in Kyle Hudson spoke volumes to NESN.com to how Jarren Duran sets the tone in dynamic fashion for the Red Sox. Fatse embraces the challenge of stretching Duran’s impact into 2025.

“It was a great season last year,” Fatse shared. “Continue to move forward and just keep building off things. Not looking backward but continue to look forward in a good way. Just continue to push the envelope. We saw what he’s capable of on the base paths too. Find ways to maximize contact and get on base.”

The Red Sox hitting coach openly acknowledged how impactful another splash move would be this winter for his lineup, though he echoed that an improved team in 2025 starts with an improved group of returning bats.

“I definitely think that’s an opportunity for us,” Fatse said. “To the point earlier, having Trevor back, guys like Connor Wong taking the next step, I think there’s internal opportunities for us to continue to get better. I think that’s my priority right now.