Red Sox Utility Man Makes Admission About Role After Call Up

Nick Sogard probably didn’t even own a first baseman’s mitt when the Boston Red Sox acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the 2021 season.

Sogard came to the Red Sox as a middle infielder, but the organization saw him as much more than that. Now, the 27-year-old wears many different hats, having played all four infield positions outside of catcher last season while also getting some time in the outfield with Triple-A Worcester.

Taking on the role of a utility man for the Red Sox certainly took some getting used to for Sogard.

“To be completely honest, I didn’t love it,” Sogard told the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham prior to Boston’s loss to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Monday. “But as I grew to understand, there’s a lot of value in players like Kiké Hernández or Brock Holt. He was somebody I looked up to.

“I’ve come to accept it. I’ve actually grown to like it a lot. It keeps it fresh.”

Sogard, who the Red Sox called up Saturday with Romy Gonzalez on the injured list, figures to get in a good amount of time at first base. He’ll platoon there going forward with Abraham Toro, but it’s the position Sogard has the least amount of experience at in the infield.

That didn’t stop Red Sox manager Alex Cora from starting Sogard at the corner infield spot in two games against the Kansas City Royals. Sogard didn’t make any blunders and even turned a double play as he learns on the job.

“It’s fairly new to me but I feel comfortable with a glove on,” Sogard said. “But there are definitely some little intricacies here and there.”

Cora certainly has faith that Sogard can do what the Red Sox are asking of him, not only in the field but at the plate, too.

“(Sogard) is going great,” Cora told reporters, per Abraham. “Good decisions. He’s a good player. He’s a utility player on a championship-caliber club. The only thing he doesn’t have is (major league) time. He puts good at-bats, we’re happy with that. The moment is not too big for him.”