Center or right, Dugie to bring energy as vet

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Last year, Alex Verdugo enthusiastically came to camp as the new guy in a Red Sox outfield that still included Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr.

This year, Verdugo comes in as the last man standing. At 24 years old, he is the longest-tenured member of Boston's outfield -- despite having just 53 games under his belt from 2020.

The exciting and championship-winning trio of Mookie Betts (the superstar who was traded to the Dodgers for Verdugo), Bradley (a free agent) and Benintendi (dealt to the Royals) are nowhere to be found at Fenway South.

Verdugo, however, brings plenty of energy and athleticism, and he is thrilled to be the new front man in Boston's outfield. Newcomers Hunter Renfroe, Franchy Cordero, Marwin Gonzalez and Enrique Hernández will now have to ask Verdugo about the quirky dimensions of the outfield at Fenway Park.

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“Yeah, it definitely is unique,” Verdugo said. “It’s weird, but we have some guys that are ready to step up. I think this ballpark, with the dimensions we’ve already mentioned, I think it’s going to play for their swings and I think they’re going to surprise some people. I mess around with J.D. [Martinez] a lot, telling him I’m the longest-tenured outfielder that we have. Obviously he is, because he’s played outfield here and there, but I like to give him a hard time.”

There’s still a chance -- though it seems remote -- that Bradley could one day emerge at JetBlue Park having signed a new deal with the Red Sox. In that case, Verdugo could slide back to right field, where he was excellent last season.

Barring that unexpected development, Verdugo is likely to be the primary center fielder, a challenge he is looking forward to.

“For me, I love center,” said Verdugo. “I wouldn’t say it’s my natural position. That’s just what I played the most growing up. That’s where a lot of my reps were. I’ve always prided myself on being good in any of the three outfield positions, so it’ll be the same this year.”

Red Sox manager Alex Cora hasn’t settled on his outfield alignment yet. While Hernández will likely get most of his reps at second base, he is a strong center fielder and could be out there at times with Verdugo moving to right.

The uncertainty doesn’t bother Verdugo. He will be ready, no matter where he plays.

“I think preparation stays the same. My biggest thing is physically do my stuff in the weight room. Do my core and the baseball stuff will play,” Verdugo said. “Every time I come back and start doing my defense work, it’s all the same -- work on my hands, work on coming in on the ball, work on cutting a ball off, going into the gaps, my angles and all that stuff. So with all that, it’s all the same.”

In a refreshing bit of candor, Verdugo admitted there’s one reason he’d like to settle mostly in one spot.

He’d like to have a Gold Glove Award to put on his mantle at some point.

“I think my biggest thing this year, and this is more like of a selfish thing in that aspect, is that I just want to accumulate enough innings in one position to, you know, qualify for some certain things, like defensive awards and things like that,” Verdugo said. “But you know, as far as being versatile and everything with that, if I see my name penciled in the lineup and all that, I don't care where I'm playing. I'm happy to go out there and compete.”

As Red Sox fans learned last year, you won’t find anyone who competes harder than Verdugo. He plays with a burning intensity all the time, and he can produce with his bat, arm and legs.

“Alex is a guy, he understands his swing, he knows what he wants to do,” said Cora. “One thing’s for sure, he’s a great defender. He’s a really good defender. He’s going to be very important wherever he plays in the outfield.”

Though Verdugo was thrilled to get traded to Boston, the one bittersweet aspect was that he watched many of his friends and former teammates win a World Series last October.

“I mean, I'm happy for the guys. You know what I mean? It’s a bittersweet moment, because at the same time, I want that ring,” Verdugo said. “I want to be a champion. I think things work out for a reason. Coming over here and being with Boston and being with the staff and the teammates and how I get along with and jell with the guys, I think the fit here is better. I think this is where I was supposed to be. And I think it's just going to make it even more special when we do get that ring and we win it here.”