By Jack Davis and Judd Liebman
Since making his major league debut on April 23, Detroit Tiger Brennan Boesch â04 has become the teamâs starting left fielder and is currently batting .340 with four home runs and 22 runs batted in, in just 94 at bats.
Coaches and teammates alike are excited about the rookieâs start and his progress already.
“Brennan Boesch needs a lot of work in the outfield. Itâs our job to make him an average outfielder. If you make him an average outfielder, you are really going to have something [good],” manager Jim Leyland told the Detroit Free Press.
Despite some struggles in the field, Boesch is delivering at the plate for the Tigers. His 22 runs batted in are top among American League rookies and had a very impressive homecoming in three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In those games, which many family members and old friends from Harvard-Westlake attended, Boesch went three for 12 with a home run, three runs batted in and a walk.
“It feels great to be back home,” Boesch said. “It was a dream come true to just make the big leagues and be able to play at the highest level, but luckily I got called up early enough that I got to come back to Los Angeles for a series,” Boesch said.
Boesch relished the chance to play in front of all of his family and friends.
“At Dodger Stadium, with my parents in the crowd with all my friends and other family, it doesnât get much better than that,” Boesch said.
Boesch didnât take long to get acclimated to the majors; on the first pitch he saw in his debut, Boesch doubled off the opposite field wall against former all-star Rich Harden.
“But that was definitely a thrill to get up there and get that first hit out of the way. I could relax a little bit. I canât say I played completely relaxed my first day, but it was a good step in the right direction,” Boesch told the Detroit Free Press.
Boeschâs teammates have been impressed by his play.
“Heâs good. Heâs been a big addition for this team and doing well hitting the ball and getting a lot of RBI,” right fielder Magglio Ordonez told the Free Press.
Even players not on the Tigers have taken notice of how well Boesch is playing.
“Maybe once a year comes a hitter that really stands out to me, a rookie hitter. This guy is impressive,” New York Yankees All-Star first baseman Mark Teixeria told the Free Press.
Since Boesch joined the Tigers on April 23 the club has gone 16-13 after starting the season with a 9-6 record.
