Despite the Red Sox' struggles in 2015, second-year players Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts have taken positive steps during the season.
With what appears to be a changing of the guard for the Red Sox in the near future, are Bogaerts and Betts ready to take the spots of David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia as the stars of the ballclub?
"I think to put either of those guys in the company of two great players at this juncture is a reach," said Steve Buckley. "You want to see what a guy does after two or three years, not after a year and a half. Bogaerts took a significant jump up this season. I'm speaking as a guy who didn't think he was a big league shortstop. He played a very good shortstop this season. And Betts has made a graceful transition from the infield to the outfield. I'm big fans. But can they make that leap to that status? That's not easily done."
