Alex Verdugo among those in running for Red Sox leadoff spot

BOSTON --- Andrew Benintendi’s time in the leadoff spot could soon be coming to an end.

Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke has already bumped his left fielder down in the batting order against left-handed pitching. An additional step might be necessary against right-handers as well if Benintendi continues his ice-cold start.

Boston began its three-game weekend series against the Blue Jays on Friday night searching for an offensive spark atop the lineup. It hasn’t [...]

BOSTON --- Andrew Benintendi’s time in the leadoff spot could soon be coming to an end.

Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke has already bumped his left fielder down in the batting order against left-handed pitching. An additional step might be necessary against right-handers as well if Benintendi continues his ice-cold start.

Boston began its three-game weekend series against the Blue Jays on Friday night searching for an offensive spark atop the lineup. It hasn’t come as of yet from Benintendi, who is off to just a 2-for-29 beginning. One of those hits was a bunt single last week in a home matchup against the Mets.

"It’s obviously not ideal," Benintendi said. "I think everything is amplified right now with 60 games and things like that.

"Still working. Coming to the park every day excited that maybe it will click and I’ll get things going."

The Red Sox attempted to shoehorn Benintendi into the leadoff spot last season and received similar results. Boston flipped the top two players from its most dominant team in franchise history, taking Mookie Betts out of his familiar role batting first for the 2018 World Series champions. Benintendi was just 5-for-42 with a lone extra base hit in his first plate appearance of the game before former manager Alex Cora opted to reverse course.

"I just know when he’s right he’s an on-base player, and we need an on-base guy in that leadoff spot," Roenicke said. "But that doesn’t mean I’m just going to be stubborn and we’re going to keep him there forever."

Betts was traded to the Dodgers during the offseason, and one of three players the Red Sox received in return could soon be auditioning for his old job. Alex Verdugo – the lone current big leaguer among the trio – has nearly identical career splits against pitchers from both sides. Verdugo has occupied the leadoff spot only once in 111 career starts, striking out in his first at-bat against Matt Grace and the Nationals in a July 27 game last season.

"He would probably be the one guy in our lineup that makes a lot of sense," Roenicke said. "I think when he’s swinging well he looks like he’s very patient. It doesn’t seem to bother him whether it’s a left-hander or a right-hander.

"Yes, we have talked about it."

There are few catalysts in the game throughout any lineup to rival Betts, but Benintendi flashed some significant dynamism during his first full season in 2017. He cracked 20 homers, stole 20 bases and managed a credible .776 OPS through 151 games. Benintendi was down to a .774 OPS last season and well off the other two marks – just 13 home runs and 10 stolen bases.

"You just don’t know what’s going to click and, when a guy goes out there, what changes," Roenicke said. "Maybe it’s mechanically that he has to make adjustments or maybe it’s just the thinking process. A lot of different things can happen, but yes – I’m hoping one of those happens to him."

Benintendi looked primed to rebound in 2020 throughout Summer Camp, spraying line drives to all fields. Those results failed to carry over through the first 12 games, which represent 20% of the curtailed schedule. Boston was off to just a 4-8 start entering Friday and floundering in the basement of the American League East.

"I feel like I’ve seen a lot of pitches – more so because I’m fouling off the pitches I should be hitting," Benintendi said. "I think when you foul off the pitch you need to hit you put yourself in the hole. That’s where I’ve been."

bkoch@providencejournal.com

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