After Trevor Story went down with a shoulder injury early in the year, the Boston Red Sox were looking for somebody to step up as a leader, and Rob Refsnyder answered the bell.
The veteran outfielder not only helped keep everyone engaged and in good spirits during some down swings throughout the season, but he also performed well on the field, hitting .283 with an .830 OPS, 11 home runs and 40 RBIs.
Earlier in the year, Refsnyder was considering retirement after the 2024 season, but he seems to be ready to return for his 10th season in the MLB if the team picks up his $2 million club option.
“I’ve been talking to Bres a little bit,” Refsnyder said (via. MassLive). “I don’t know when exactly that decision needs to be made. I love it here. I love Boston. If they pick up the option I’d love to be back and hopefully see everyone in spring training. If they don’t pick it up, then I’d gauge where the interest is and go from there. But I love it here, even the way the fans supported us when we were playing like (expletive). I think it’s the best fan base and I feel very fortunate to be part of this organization.
“Bres is great at his job and I’m sure he’s weighing all the options, the pros and cons of everything. Bres is a true professional, but hopefully, once the season is over, we’ll have some more answers.”
Refsnyder is an older player on a roster filled with guys trying to break into the league for the first time and solidify their spots, he's been a great presence that they can learn from. That would be great in 2025 as well with Boston's top four prospects expected to join the team at some point.
“I’ll be 34 in spring training. I could see myself playing for a couple more years honestly, if the situation is right,” he said Saturday. “Especially if I’m here. You saw the core this year. It’s a pretty good core. I’m sure Bres is motivated and the front office is motivated. We as the players need to play better.”
Things haven't exactly gone the way that Refsnyder has hoped with the team, but he sees a path for the Red Sox to accomplish their goals in the near future.
“I signed here after the ‘21 season because I wanted to be part of postseason baseball,” Refsnyder said. “To be able to go through some tough years, see a core form, get to know these guys... hopefully, next year we’re competing for a division and the postseason. I feel like that would be an amazing feeling and it would mean a lot more than just jumping on something. To be able to go through those down years and hopefully be on the up and make a postseason run, that would mean a lot.”
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