2025 In A Discarded-On-The-Dugout-Floor Nutshell
Nick Sogard had his second consecutive season as a product of a depleted roster with limited platoon options, but he made the absolute most of the opportunities he was given on the Major League roster with his versatility and defensive dependability.
If anyone has been reading my Minor Lines since 2022, you should already know how I feel about Nick Sogard’s presence on the field and in the lower part of the lineup. He’ll rarely be the player to make a game-changing play. But he’ll often be the guy who functions exactly as he should wherever he’s assigned. But, in case you don’t want to take my word for it, here is a quote straight from his mouth:
The 28-year-old Sogard, who was acquired along with catcher Ronaldo Hernandez in 2021 from the Rays organization for Chris Mazza and Jeffrey Springs (neither of whom are with that organization anymore), has logged innings at every infield position as well as right field in the system. He committed one error in 30 games, that coming at first base, which, on this team, is a breath of fresh air. He’s more sound defensively than, say, an Enmanuel Valdez would have been, he is more patient at the plate than an Abraham Toro, and while he does not provide the spark that a Romy Gonzalez does, his versatility affords him a Major League job. To make matters better for Sogard, his weakest position (where he committed 6 of his 9 Triple-A errors) is shortstop, where Boston seemingly does not have much to worry about amidst Trevor Story’s 2026 opt-in (I’m going to knock on every piece of wood in my house that he stays healthy now) and Marcelo Mayer’s return from injury, so Sogard can focus on platooning at positions where he won’t be detrimental to the team.
As if the versatility in position wasn’t valuable enough, Sogard also gives the lineup flexibility by being a switch hitter, although he is a fair amount better hitting lefties (.857 OPS vs. a .552 OPS against righties.) His 43% ground ball percentage means he knows how to put the ball in play, something that was evident in his pinch hitting stint in the Wild Card round against the Yankees. Patience, a low whiff percentage and being able to put the ball in play are all truly valuable for a guy at the bottom of the lineup when all you need to keep an inning alive is a professional at-bat.
As much as I can spend three years talking Sogard up, and as much as he’s improved on these “defensive shortcomings” I named on his 2024 Meet The New Guy, he’s still a replacement player, literally – his fWAR last year was 0.1 albeit with just a 30-game sample size. Sogard’s biggest shortcoming among a decent batting average and on base percentage that are aided by his aforementioned strength (his career slash line is .266/.321/.335, resulting in a lackluster .656 OPS) is that he has no power to speak of. He’s good for about 10 home runs per season at the Triple-A level, but has failed to hit a ball into the seats as a Major Leaguer. His 2025 isolated power sat at .083 and his wRC+ is at 83, and that ability to create runs was no doubt bolstered by hitting 8 doubles, twice as many as he had in 2024.
This hustle to get to second against the Yankees. Made all the difference
There’s also him playing hero by driving Nate Eaton in to walk the Athletics off…. more on Eaton in two and a half sentences.
How much are the Red Sox going to rely on part-time presences like Nick Sogard in 2026?
The plan is never to have replacement level players take too many at-bats on a roster in a contention window. Ahem, I’m looking at you, back of 2025 Red Sox rotation. In any case, with Romy Gonzalez squarely considered a more dependable player than most crops of platoon players, the question may become if Nate Eaton’s speed is more of a selling point than Sogard’s patience. Part-time players are far from the most important question that needs to be addressed this offseason, but we should all know by now how much Alex Cora likes to utilize guys who can be used anywhere for maximum flexibility.
Nick Sogard is pre-arbitration f0r several more years and looks to be a part-time Quad-A option (without the humor of Bobby Dalbec hitting balls into Shrewsbury on a weekly basis to strike out daily once promoted) unless the team really runs against a 40-man crunch, or until Sogard runs out of options. This would really depend the value they assign to him as opposed to the other guys they pick up. With Eaton, Sogard and Gonzalez all secured, as well as Kristian Campbell playing who knows where, this may not be a year the Red Sox pick up depth pieces that are not on Minor League deals and may need to urgently swing for some fences if Alex Bregman does not return. I wouldn’t feel incredible in a world where, behind Marcelo Mayer, Sogard is a next best option for any frame of time, but you could do worse than a replacement level player being a replacement. And, best case scenario for the organization, I either get another season to write about Sogard at Polar Park, or he has a breakout season.
