Jonathan Lucroy remembers 2015 well.
That spring training he hit .435 with a 1.306 OPS and five homers. It didn’t translate to April, with the catcher finishing April with a .133 batting average, .393 OPS and no homers. The lesson was that it is OK for veterans to ease into the regular season.
The problem for Lucroy this time around is that he really doesn’t have that option as a non-roster invitee.
“My body feels great. Health-wise I feel great,” he said, having felt the impact of neck surgery in the offseason. “That part is great. Now it’s just getting back into the swing of things. I haven’t felt this good physically in a long time. Now it’s getting the rest of it figured out. Timing. Seeing it. It’s a different situation. Now I am in a different spot. I have to have a great spring. You can’t ease it into. You have to get after it.
“I’m going to be a little more aggressive. I have always been a patient hitter, but sometimes that will get in trouble because you’re too patient. For me, I want to be a little more aggressive. I’m not thinking about it actively in my mind.”
Lucroy is vying for the Red Sox' backup catcher spot, with Kevin Plawecki (who is on the major-league roster) as his chief competition. The righty hitter enters Tuesday 2-for-9 with a pair of walks and three strikeouts, having spent most of his first week of games as a designated hitter.