Defining Xander Bogaerts has always been a tricky exercise.
But after playing in his 1,000 career game -- and hearing a few key quotes regarding the Red Sox' star -- a pretty good definition can now be mustered.
Bogaerts is the Mike Trout of shortstops.
It might seem somewhat of an odd analysis. That, however, shouldn't diminish the power and accuracy such a comparison. Let's start with the obvious ...
Nobody in baseball is as good as Trout right now. As much as we want to wedge the likes of Byron Buxton, J.D. Martinez or Bogaerts into the current American League MVP conversation, barring a downturn from the Angels' outfielder it's simply not happening.
Sure, take Trout out of the equation and we can have some fun imagining Bogaerts finally getting his just-do with an MVP award. He has been that good. But Trout is part of the equation, so the pedestal he sits on will remain.
That, however, doesn't mean we can't push Bogaerts into rarified air. He has, after all, become the standard bearer at his position, managing the ascension in a most unique and unassuming away.
Yes, Xander Bogaerts has become the Mike Trout of shortstops.
You can start with numbers if you like. Bogaerts leads all major league shortstops in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, doubles and extra-base hits.
Yet, the aforementioned designation has as much to do with how Bogaerts does it than the end-result. Sound familiar? This "ah-hah" moment was truly surfaced with two key quotes after Thursday's Red Sox' win.
Bogaerts: "Sometimes people make it looks easy. I think Mike Trout might be the only one. I think it’s really easy for him."
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch: “It’s substance over style (for Bogaerts) … He’s just very comfortable with who he is. He doesn’t try to really do too much, doesn’t try to sit in the spotlight. He just shows up and does his job, gets a couple hits, makes all the plays, does it with a smile on his face. He’s a really remarkable player.”
These attributes are what makes Bogaerts, Bogaerts and has made Trout, Trout.
Nobody is going to suggest it's Mike Trout-easy for the Red Sox shortstop. He has had to endure a sometimes awkward evolution to arrive at this point. But Bogaerts certainly offers the same sort of another-day-at-the-office vibe so few can exude while landing with numbers that are the best of the best.
For example, while most every hitter stresses over falling behind in this day and age of unhittable pitches, Bogaerts calmly glides through his at-bats -- strikes or no strikes -- ultimately landing with the desired result. Bogaerts has had 65 at-bats with two-strike counts, hitting .292 on such occasions. No player with that many two-strike at-bats comes close.
Here's another one: Since the beginning of the 2019 season only one qualified hitter (Freddie Freeman) has a better collective OPS than Bogaerts' .931.
Defensively, he makes the plays. Plays you don't think he will make, but makes just the same. Yes, as Hinch said, it is substance over style.
And, finally, there is the public perception part of the deal. This is where Bogaerts and Trout really line up.
"Why aren't they publicized more?" "How come they aren't the faces of baseball?" "Where is the off-the-field love for the best-of-the-best on-field products?"
They are who they are, which is better than almost everyone else.
Deal with it.
Congratulations Xander Bogaerts, you have have gotten baseball's best compliment. You are the the Mike Trout of your position.