Verdugo hungry, 'wants more' in 2021

BOSTON -- From the perspective of most people who have watched the Red Sox this season, outfielder and leadoff man Alex Verdugo has been the team’s MVP.

While it has been gratifying for the fiery outfielder to show off his many assets in his first year with his new team, Verdugo thinks he can be better in 2021.

“You know, I’m happy with the season that I’ve had; I am,” Verdugo said. “But the competitor in me wants more. It’s just every year -- and this dates back to me being in the Minors and when I’ve hit .330 in a year -- I see things that I think I can get better at, whether it’s stealing more bases, whether it’s hitting for a little bit more power, whether it’s hitting for a higher average, too.

“I always look at my game on all aspects. It’s not just a hitting thing. I don’t look at just a one-sided thing of my play. I try to see everything, see how I did. This year I feel good. I felt like I showed off a lot of the tools that I have and it was like, ‘Hey, I can do this, this and this.’ So it’s just now, next year, I want to be stronger, be even more healthy and be able to do it every single day for 162 [games].”

Given that Verdugo doesn’t turn 25 until May 15, 2021, there’s little reason to think he won’t continue to evolve and improve with more experience.

He entered Thursday’s home finale against the Orioles with an impressive line of .328/.383/.508 with 16 doubles and six homers. Verdugo also leads American League outfielders with seven assists.

Consider that Verdugo did all that coming off a stress fracture in his lower back that limited what he could do in the offseason. Also, add in the fact that Verdugo somehow tuned out the pressure of being the main return piece in the trade for Mookie Betts, and it makes his season even more impressive.

“For me, going through the COVID [protocols], going through the no fans [at the games], coming back from an injury, I had to learn a lot about myself, and my body and what it takes to be healthy every day, what it takes to play at the level I play at,” Verdugo said.

“I just started getting a better routine. Now, I just hope to have an offseason that’s regular, that’s not a rehab offseason, that’s an actual offseason to gain weight, get muscle, come back strong. This year, I just felt like I was healthy. I didn’t feel too strong. I’m hoping next year I’ll be healthy and strong.”

The one thing everyone missed out on this season is seeing how an energy-filled player like Verdugo would have responded to a packed house at Fenway. When spectators return, Verdugo figures to quickly become a fan favorite. He has always been the type of hard-nosed player Boston fans appreciate the most.

“Playing in Boston, I love it,” Verdugo said. “Coming to Fenway, seeing the park and all that, it’s still special. It’s still fun. It’s one of those things, I can’t wait to see the ballpark filled with fans. My style of play is I give it everything I got. I just play hard and let everything else sort itself out. I don’t want to sit back and say, ‘What if I did this? What if I ran harder?’ I play hard and whatever happens, happens.”