There are lots of ways to quantify the Red Sox' power surge. They're on pace for 232 home runs this season, which places them second in the American League. Last year, the Red Sox hit 168 home runs, finishing last in the AL.
Boston's power was on full display in its 9-6 win over the Angels Wednesday. The Sox clubbed three home runs in the second inning, including J.D. Martinez's 25th home run of the season. He now holds the record for most home runs hit by a Red Sox hitter through the end of June.
With a 54-27 record, it's apparent the Red Sox will slug their way through the summer. That may spark some complaints from the peanut gallery about boring games, but so be it. Their necks are destined to be craned from watching all of those balls sail over the Green Monster.
Here are three reasons the Red Sox' lineup is so much better than last season's comparatively feeble version:
J.D. Martinez's rarified place in Red Sox lore
It's been established Martinez is on track to becoming the Red Sox' best big-money free agent signing since Manny Ramirez. But through June, he's shown himself to be one of the best power hitters in Red Sox history.
Per the "SoxNotes" Twitter account, Martinez is one of seven players to hit at least 25 home runs through the first 81 games of the season. The others are David Ortiz, Ted Williams, Jamie Foxx, Mo Vaughn, Jackie Jensen and Ramirez.
Not too shabby.
Five players projected to exceed or match last season's home run leader
Last season, four players on the Red Sox hit at least 20 home runs: Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez, Mitch Moreland and Andrew Benintendi. Betts led the foursome with 24 home runs.
Martinez has already surpassed that title. Six players on the Red Sox are projected to hit the 20-home run threshold this season, with Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers joining the other four. (The list would probably be at seven, too, if Ramirez were still around. He had six home runs when he was DFA'd May 25.)
Even more impressively, all six of those players are poised to match or exceed Betts' total from 2017. Martinez and Betts are projected to reach 45 and 40 home runs, respectively, and Benintendi is slated to reach 26. Devers and Bogaerts are on pace to each slug 24 home runs.
Xander Bogaerts' transformation
Martinez and Betts have received most of the coverage this season, and rightfully so. But Bogaerts' emergence is also a big reason why the Red Sox' lineup has been so thunderous.
The 25-year-old shortstop is hitting .276/.336/.508, giving him the highest OPS of his career, .844. Previously, Bogaerts' best offensive season was 2016, when he sported an .802 OPS and knocked 21 home runs.
It seemed as if Bogaerts was going to take off then, but his performance dipped in the second half of 2017, after he had gotten plunked on the hand with a pitch. Bogaerts hit .235/.324/.347 to round out last season.
Bogaerts' presence has extended the Red Sox' lineup far past where it was on year ago, when it was so feeble at times.
