Of all the pseudo-analytics followers of the Red Sox were casting an eye toward, there was one which piqued the most early-season interest.
How many times would we be uttering "Jackie would have gotten it" when watching Red Sox centerfielders chase down balls.
Well, thanks to Kiké Hernandez the absence of that utterance throughout 2021 has become one of this year's biggest surprises.
"I bet at the beginning it happened a few times, but after I got used to it, I locked it down," Hernandez told WEEI.com when asked if was aware of the Bradley Jr.-induced proclamations.
For a guy who just about two innings as a centerfielder in the minor leagues, and three spring training games at the position for the Red Sox, Hernandez has evolved into something few saw coming -- one of the best centerfielders in the game.
Wednesday night just happened to offer the latest reminder.
"I said it when I signed here, yeah, I want to be the everyday second baseman but I care more about the starting lineup than the defensive positioning," said the 30-year-old. "As long as I’m in the starting lineup I don’t care where I play. Organically, it just happened where I played more and more center field. The way I play and being around winning teams, I understand that my defense is going to be needed wherever the team is going to be the best with me there. I understood that having me in center field and rotating guys at second base is probably best for the team. I want to play every day and I want to win, so if that helps me play every day and helps us win, I’m all for it."
The plan was for Hernandez to be the Red Sox' regular second baseman, at least coming in as a defensive replacement at the position in the late innings if his team held a lead.
But the emergence of second baseman Christian Arroyo, along with the out-of-nowhere realization that Hernandez was a notch above the other Sox outfielders as a centerfielder, altered plans.
The results have been striking.
Hernandez's 12 defensive runs saved is fourth among centerfielders (and 2 more than Bradley Jr.) despite playing in just 658 innings at the position. The three players ahead of him have played 1,132, 792 and 832 innings in center, respectively.
According to StatCast, Hernandez's jump (feet covered from 0-3 seconds) is the best in Major League Baseball with an average of four feet. The next-best is 3.2 feet. His reaction (the first 0-1.5 seconds) is 4.3 feet above average, two feet better than the second-best MLB outfielder.
Oh, and then there are those eight outfield assists.
"I knew I graded well in the metrics, but I always thought in the outfield left field was my best one. Maybe that’s because I played there a lot more," he explained.
"When I played center field it was the first time I played center field on a daily basis. I had played there here and there, but I was moving around a lot. I feel like I’m pretty good everywhere, but if I’m playing one spot the majority of the time I’m going to be better."
Heading into Friday, Hernandez has started in center 75 times, playing at least one inning at the position in 84 games. The Red Sox record with the leadoff hitter setting foot in center? That would be 52-32.
It may not have been Plan A, but it sure is now.
"I had never been a fan of the outfield because the game is a little too slow compared to the infield," he said. "But center field turned out to be a lot fun. It’s getting fun."