totally random garbage: Red Sox Fun Facts

My wife and I are huge Red Sox fans. We pretty much don’t miss a game.

During the game the other night, the announcers mentioned that Sonny Gray is an actor. I had heard that before, as well as that Wilyer Abreu is a barber.

I was wondering if any other players had some hidden talents. It’s a big roster, so I’m covering position players this week. Pitchers next week.

Adley Rutschman

Was a placekicker on the Oregon State football team as a freshman

Yes, he also played on the baseball team as well. In fact, he won the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy while there.

Connor Wong

His stepfather, Matt Maysey, played in MLB

Maysey played 2 years, for the Expos and Brewers. He got in 25 games, posting a 1-2 record, with 1 save and a 5.55 ERA.

Willson Contreras

Brother William is also in MLB

Like his brother, William is still active. William’s played 7 years total, with Atlanta & Milwaukee. He’s a catcher, and has been a 3-time All Star and 2-time Silver Slugger.

The two grew up very poor in rural Venezuela. They practiced with a broomstick and wadded up pieces of paper.

Nick Sogard

Grew up a Red Sox fan

In Southern California!

As high school soccer player

Trevor Story

Hit 96 as a pitcher in high school

He also was the QB. He gave that up, though, to concentrate on baseball. Surprisingly, he has not pitched since then.

Caleb Durbin

Can juggle

“He sees juggling as a helpful exercise for hand-eye coordination … While it helps with general coordination, he notes that it is not directly part of playing baseball and has little practical use in everyday life.” [Google AI]

Anthony Seigler

Is Navajo (Dine)

He was born on the rez in Arizona, but then grew up in Georgia. He is the second Navajo in MLB history, the first being former fellow Red Sox player Jacoby Ellsbury.

With mom and Navajo flag

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Is related to Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner

They’re second cousins twice removed

And, yes, they both played for the Pirates

Andruw Monasterio

Signed for a mere $7,500

At age 17, he showed up at a Cubs tryout in Venezuela. They subsequently signed him for 0.3% of the what the top international signing got that year. Monasterio then spent 10 years in the minors before finally making his way to the bigs.

As Akron RubberDuck

Roman Anthony

Father, brother & grandfather are all named Anthony Anthony

He grew up in a close-knit Italian family in South Florida. Not sure where that peuliar naming tradition came from though.

Cheering him on in his debut at Fenway

Ceddanne Rafaela

Middle name is Chipper, after Chipper Jones

His mom was a fan of fellow countryman (Curacao) Andruw Jones, rooted in turn for the Braves, and subsequently developed a love of Chipper Jones as well. Ceddanne’s full name is Ceddanne Chipper Nicasio Marte Rafaela. I have no idea where Ceddanne comes from.

Wilyer Abreu

Can cut hair

He picked up the skill in the minors, then practiced on his teammates for free. He owns a barber shop back in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where he’s from. He’s also visited barber shops in Boston to support a program that gives free haircuts to poor kids.

Jarren Duran

Grew up idolizing Dustin Pedroia

In California! He also credits Pedroia with making an adjustment to his batting stance in spring training that helped him raise his BA over 70 points.

Masataka Yoshida

Nickname in Japan is “Macho Man”

It all started when Yoshisa chose the Village People song as his walkup music. The stadium video board played along by showing a cartoon of him lifting dumbbells. Finally, the stadium started selling plastic dumbbells at games.

Not sure why he chose that song. Seeing as he’s only 5’8”, maybe there’s a little irony going on.