Alex Cora talks Red Sox lineup, tells who likely will bat second, third, fourth
Red Sox manager Alex Cora gave some more insight about how he will construct the Red Sox lineup in 2023.
He told reporters in Clearwater on Sunday that Rafael Devers likely will bat second, Justin Turner third and Masataka Yoshida cleanup, NESN’s Mike Monaco tweeted.
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Boston Globe’s Alex Speier also tweeted, “Cora gave a bit more shape to the lineup, saying it’ll probably be mix-and-match with leadoff, Devers second, Turner third, and Yoshida cleanup.”
Cora had hinted earlier in camp that Devers would not hit second but he apparently has changed his mind. He always has said he wants Turner batting after Devers.
Yoshida batted out of the cleanup spot in Japan. He has had a strong World Baseball Classic tourney, going 6-for-15 (.400) with a homer, double, four runs, 10 RBIs, two walks and no strikeouts. He and Japan will play Mexico in the semifinals Monday.
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Devers has batted second 241 times in his career. He has a .299/.356/.567/.922 line with 58 homers, 83 doubles, five triples, 177 RBIs and 177 runs in 1,091 plate appearances from the two hole.
Turner has batted third in the lineup in 540 games (530 starts) during his career. He has a 299/.382/.494.876 line with 90 homers, 111 doubles, five triples, 307 runs and 301 RBIs in 2,313 plate appearances from the three hole.
