Red Sox hitting coach Tim Hyers should have a rewarding job this season, overseeing what has a chance to be one of the most powerful offensive units in the Major Leagues.

With one week until Opening Day, Hyers provided analysis on the state of several hitters.

Perhaps most noteworthy, given the importance of his success to that of the team, is his prognosis on J.D. Martinez, who is coming off a rough 2020 (.213/.291/.389).

Though Martinez is having a modest Spring Training (.268/.311/.341, no homers) and has missed the last two days after eating some bad sushi, Hyers sees encouraging signs from Boston’s projected No. 3 hitter.

“We’ve seen progress with him,” Hyers said. “He probably hasn’t had the spring he wants to have, but you look back at 2018, I don’t think he even hit a homer in [Spring Training] and we know what he did that year. So we have seen him get the head out and pull some baseballs to the pull side, and so that’s a good sign.

“And then I think we’ve seen a few more walks and less expanding the zone. I think when his mechanics are feeling better, that’s when I think his pitch selection and swing quality is a lot better and the chase goes down. So far I’ve seen the J.D. that I like, and a guy who has a lot more confidence, I feel, moving into this 2021 season.”

Dalbec ready for damage
The one rookie in the starting lineup will be first baseman Bobby Dalbec, who bashed eight homers in his first 80 Major League at-bats last season. The powerful right-handed hitter has looked even better this spring, unloading for seven homers in his first 42 at-bats, including two grand slams.

“It just shows his raw power. It shows what he’s capable of doing. He’s really displayed it this spring,” said Hyers. “I think we’re going to live with some strikeouts because most power hitters come with strikeouts. But he’s done a good job working to try to eliminate some of them. He’s given us some productive ABs and he’s hitting the ball to all fields.

“That’s where he has to stay. I think when he gets too pull happy, I think that’s when the strikeouts will pile up. But he’s confident, seeing the baseball deep, using all fields -- he’s capable of hitting it out of any ballpark, anywhere.”

Hyers is pleased with the technical adjustments that Dalbec has made.

“He’s able to get down into the ground and have a base. We’ve always talked with him, that lower half provides stability, and it allows his strong hands and upper body to create bat speed,” said Hyers. “When he gets into the ground, gets his foot down, then he’s able to get his swing off.”

A new leading man
Following the trade of Mookie Betts last season, nobody on the Red Sox seemingly wanted to hit leadoff. Alex Verdugo took one for the team and did a nice job at the top of the order. This season, Verdugo can move to his more comfortable spot of second in the order.

This is because new acquisition Enrique Hernández has jumped in with both feet at the opportunity to lead off. Hernández has done so knowing that the approach he’s used for most of his career isn’t consistent enough to hit first.

“It’s been exciting to see. If you look at him, he’s one of the top on-base guys this spring,” said Hyers. “He’s got his walks, he's displayed some power, he’s hitting for an average -- that’s all we can expect from a guy at the top of the lineup. He’s got to continue to work to be consistent, and I think it starts with what he swings at and not trying to go for the gusto too much. Valuing, 'Hey, just take a single.'

“We’ve seen that; some two-strike approach, getting some base hits to the opposite field. That’s what we need, him on base and for the other guys to come up. He’s been working on that, he’s been working on trying to stay consistent. I know he’s excited to get consistent ABs. I think when he does, then that makes his life -- and I think the life of a hitter -- a lot easier, so I’m excited for him. I think he’s going to be a big impact to this team. I know the Boston fanbase is going to love him.”

Renfroe could be trending right
One thing another new face on the team, outfielder Hunter Renfroe, has done throughout his career is mash left-handed pitchers. He has an opportunity to be in the lineup most days if he can improve his success against righties. In Wednesday’s win over the Orioles, Renfroe mauled a homer to the opposite field against right-hander Dean Kremer.

“He took that 2-0 slider [the opposite way], and that's a great sign that he's staying on the baseball and able to stay there and drive the ball to the opposite field,” Hyers said. “One thing about Hunter that I've been thoroughly impressed with is his consistency and his work. I mean it's like clockwork: he's in the cage, same time every day. He’s a guy that is very consistent with his work, doesn’t say much about getting the job done, getting his work done.

“Hanging around the cages, talking to other players, that's a big asset to the team. And especially the hitting coaches to, you know, have that veteran presence, a guy who has been around for a while that can share ideas and especially show some of the younger players here in Spring Training how to work and what it takes to be a Major Leaguer. But yes, I think that if he stays within his swing like what we saw [Wednesday], he can hit right-handed pitching and prove that he's a competitive at-bat against them.”

Changing Chavis
Michael Chavis was once the No. 1 prospect in the Red Sox's farm system. But after struggling down the stretch of his rookie season in 2019 and for all of ’20, Chavis is battling for a roster spot this Spring Training. Hyers is impressed by the way that Chavis has shored up his weaknesses.

“Yes, I mean, I think big changes,” said Hyers. “You have to give Michael credit. You know, he came into camp, we all know his situation, and I know he's been battling trying to work on having a cleaner path to the ball to have more consistency. And he has done a great job of what we call, 'Getting the barrel and the hand stuck behind the body.'

“It's a big adjustment in my eyes and I’ve been very proud of him and we'll see if we can keep moving forward with that. The kind of adjustments he's made so far, it's been exciting. He's hit some pitches that he wouldn't have hit in the past, in my opinion; he’s got to stick with it though. You can't go back into those bad habits with his swing. So we’ll see if he can keep moving forward, but you have to give him credit for doing that. It's not easy at this level.”