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Old Red Sox fan favorite also one of new ‘true utility player’ IKF’s favorites
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- Old Red Sox fan favorite also one of new ‘true utility player’ IKF’s favorites
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Isiah Kiner-Falefa is embracing his new role as a Red Sox super-utility player.
"I'm excited to show off the versatility. I also think it's my best role," Kiner-Falefa said.
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The Red Sox made Kiner-Falefa's one-year, $6 million deal official Tuesday . During conversations in free agency, Boston was upfront about wanting him as a super-utility man, not an everyday player at third base or second base.
The Sox also told the 30-year-old that they were still looking to add another hitter, which they did. Boston acquired third baseman/second baseman Caleb Durbin to be an everyday player from the Brewers on Monday, five days after agreeing to terms with Kiner-Falefa.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to be a true utility player," Kiner-Falefa said.
The difficulty of the role most excites him.
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"Not many people can do it. You see the Kikés ( Enrique Hernandez ), the Chris Taylors, Brock Holt ," Kiner-Falefa said at JetBlue Park on Tuesday. "These guys who've had so much success and they're valuable, valuable players. So having that opportunity to really dive into that instead of just playing one position and being a mid-position player. Instead, I get to focus on maybe being one of the top utility players in the league and that's my goal."
The right-handed hitter, who won an AL Gold Glove at third base in 2020, said that he learned from Holt. Kiner-Falefa was teammates with Holt, a fan favorite in Boston from 2013-19, on the 2021 Texas Rangers.
"Getting to be his teammate and learning from him and seeing him play third, left, second — just kind of asking him how he went about it," Kiner-Falefa said. "So Brock was very beneficial for me as a pup coming up. And I think the biggest thing is to be present every day. But whatever position you're playing, you just focus on that position that day."
Kiner-Falefa wants to win another Gold Glove.
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"I was joking around with (Ceddanne) Rafaela today, hoping he just plays one spot so he can't qualify for the utility Gold Glove," Kiner-Falefa said. "But it's something that I'm going to try to go after and help the team in any way."
Kiner-Falefa is well aware of how Red Sox fans embraced Holt. He even pointed out how Holt is the only player ever to hit for the cycle in postseason history. Holt did it with the Red Sox against the Yankees in the 2018 ALDS .
"All we'd ask about is, 'What is it like to win a World Series?' So being here in Boston now ... it's pretty surreal," Kiner-Falefa said.
Kiner-Falefa has played every position in his career except for first base. He has started 434 games at shortstop, 206 games at third base, 66 games at catcher, 62 games at second base, 29 games in center field, 28 games in left field and four games in right field. He's even pitched 6 ⅔ innings.
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"Bouncing all over the place, doing whatever the team needs," he said. "If it's coming off the bench, filling in on defense late in games. Any opportunity, even if I had to play the outfield or even if I had to throw the catcher's gear on, I think the versatility is just going to allow the team and AC (manager Alex Cora) to maneuver guys and do whatever is best for the team."
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