The 2019 Hall of Fame class included two players who spent the majority of their careers as designated hitters: Harold Baines and Seattle’s Edgar Martinez.
Some have scoffed at the importance and challenge of the position, but Rick Renteria is not one of them.
“There are a lot of guys that, when you talk about DH’ing and you go ‘Well, it’s not as important.’ Well, there are a lot of guys that can’t do it,” Renteria said. “These guys were able to do it, and (have) that focus that it requires in order to be able to be effective hitters.”
As for the Sox, Renteria said they use the DH to give players more at-bats or to get somebody off their feet while keeping them in the lineup. One example of the latter is Jose Abreu, who is in the DH slot Sunday but hasn’t exactly warmed to the position.
“Ideally, you want to be able to have a person that is very impactful in that slot,” Renteria said. “We’re just going to continue to use it how we use it with the guys that we have, trying to get them at-bats.”
Herrera returns
Kelvin Herrera (right oblique strain) returned from the injured list Sunday, and the Sox hope he can use the last part of the season as a springboard for 2020.
“It’s important because we want him to continue to move in a position where his efforts and outcomes are more positive and building toward continuing to become who he was in the past,” Renteria said.
Expected to be a key late-inning arm, Herrera hasn’t given the Sox what they were expecting. Herrera entered Sunday’s game 3-3 with a 7.36 ERA and has battled injury all season.
“Obviously, he’s wanted to do better than he has,” Renteria said. “I think, healthwise, he’s feeling more and more comfortable with everything he’s had to go through.”
Briefly
Leury Garcia (under the weather) was scratched from the starting lineup. Jon Jay moved to leadoff, and Adam Engel took Garcia’s spot in center field.
