In case you hadn't notice, the Red Sox' offense is running away from the pack heading into Sunday's spring training game with the Braves.
Through seven Grapefruit League games, the Sox are the only team with an OPS above .900 (.978), sitting 92 points higher than the next-best club. They lead all MLB teams with 11 homers, while possessing the sole team batting average of better than .300 (.302).
What does it all mean? Probably not much.
But there are dribs and drabs of examples throughout the camp's early days that should be of some note. Appearing on the Live BP Baseball Show Saturday, Red Sox hitting coach Tim Hyers highlighted a couple.
When asked to surface a name or two who might be flying under the radar, Hyers gave a couple of intriguing names, both of whom are battling to make the 26-man roster.
"Maybe a guy that everybody is not familiar with who has put up really good at-bats in our simulated scrimmages is Christian Arroyo," said Hyers of the second baseman. "He has just hit the ball really, really hard. He’s a guy who so far who has put consistent ABs together and has done everything we have asked. He’s a guy who isn’t a frontline guy, but is a guy who is holding his own here.
"Also, Michael Chavis, he has come into camp. He’s a guy who probably didn’t have the season he wanted last year but he has dusted himself off, got back off the mat and done a really good job so far. Those are two guys right now that have kind of turned my head."
With the spring training innings games cut down throughout the first half of camp, and limited access for reporters and observers, relying on voices like Hyers to gauge the progress is key.
It's why the hitting coach's final thought in the interview also was notable.
"The theme of the camp so far is the competition," Hyers said. "Guys are competing. It’s funny because they’re competing against each other in practice. They’re competing against themselves to get better. I was telling someone the other day, that’s what we want to see. They are coming to work every day and trying to prove something where they get better. It’s exciting for us. But talk is cheap and we have to get after it once the season starts. But it’s a good sign right now that the guys have a little edge to themselves and want to have good years."
To listen to the entire interview with Hyers, click here.