Heading into Friday, Yairo Munoz’s name probably wasn’t on the tip of Boston sports fans’ tongues.
He had nothing to do with the Celtics giving up a game-winner with half a second to go. There was no connection to Cam Newton. And Munoz couldn’t add any insight into the Tuukka Rask situation.
But when the Red Sox’ two doubleheaders were done — with Ron Roenicke’s teams splitting with the Blue Jays -- the 25-year-old represented a nice, little distraction.
Six hits in just under six hours of baseball. Not bad.
“He swings the bat and that’s what they had told us in the alternate site, that he was swinging the bat better than anybody and that’s what we’re seeing,” Roenicke said. “That’s what I read all the time about him, about the good at-bats, so it would be a big boost if we can get somebody swinging it really hot and then get the other guys going.”
So, who is this Munoz?
He's the guy who can actually play as many positions as Brock Holt, spending his time during the two games vs. the Jays in the outfield, playing both left and right fields.
He's the guy who now has 200 major league games under his belt, having spent the majority of the past two seasons in the bigs with the Cardinals.
He's also the guy who last we saw him mingling among major leaguers was dealing with some controversy, leaving St. Louis camp in early March to return home instead of undergoing an MRI on an injured hamstring. That situation would ultimately lead to his release, and subsequent acquisition by the Red Sox later in the month.
“I know I have a bright future ahead of me,” Muñoz said. “What happened, that’s in the past. I don’t look back on it. It was what it was. But I’m here, I’m present, I’m here to help the team and I’m looking forward to my future. I know that I’m young, I know I have a bright future if I continue to work hard. I’m excited where I am right now.”
It was just one game, and Munoz has been up with the big-league team less than a week. But this whole month is about how players can set themselves up for 2021, and this player offers an intriguing option.
While defensively he might not be what the Red Sox want on a full-time basis at second base, his bat and willingness to play anywhere might give him a leg up on other utility options. Shortstop, 57 games. Outfield, 53 games. Third base, 45 games. Second base, 30 games. And all in the major leagues.
He is unique, as his former manager with St. Louis Mike Matheny once pointed out: "I haven’t seen anyone whose two primary positions are center field and shortstop."
“I grew up playing shortstop," Munoz noted. "Shortstop is what I’ve played for most of my professional career. Actually where I feel most comfortable at is third base or second base, but shortstop is where I’ve played the majority of my innings.”
If nothing else, Munoz has put himself on the Red Sox' radar. And, let's face it, any sort of organizational optimism is welcome these days.
“Fun seeing somebody that’s really hot,” Roenicke said. “If he swings the bat like this, it’s going to be fun watching him pretty much every day. So, we’ll see what happens. But like I said, to have somebody just on fire is pretty cool to see.”