Alex Bregman's Game-Winning Homer After Training Day Triumph

Alex Bregman’s Return to Action

Alex Bregman was not in the starting lineup for the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Manager Alex Cora and the team's training staff are carefully managing his return after he missed 43 games due to a right quad strain. This current six-game road trip includes two scheduled days off for Bregman, with Sunday being one of them, and Wednesday in Philadelphia set as the second.

However, Sunday turned out to be more than just a day off for Bregman. He played a crucial role in helping the Red Sox secure a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, salvaging the final game of a three-game series.

Throughout the day, Bregman was actively involved in the video room and batting cages with the hitting coaches. His efforts paid off when he came off the bench to hit a pinch-hit three-run home run in the eighth inning. This moment was significant for both Bregman and the team, showing his commitment to getting back into form.

“We looked at some mechanical things before the game today and kind of used today as like a training day of getting back to feeling good,” Bregman said. “It was important to work on my mechanics and ensure I was ready to contribute.”

Focusing on Swing Mechanics

Bregman wanted to focus on breaking down his swing mechanics after recording just three hits in his first 16 at-bats since returning from the injured list on July 11. He spent most of the game in the batting cage with assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, working on getting back into the right position mechanically after being away for about two months.

Before his injury, Bregman had an impressive performance, hitting .299 with a .385 on-base percentage, .553 slugging percentage, and a .938 OPS in 51 games (226 plate appearances). He noticed that he was standing more vertically and wasn’t starting in the same position as before his injury.

“So tried to get back into that starting position and then swing from behind the ball,” Bregman explained. “Yeah, just big credit to our hitting staff for noticing that and helping me out with it.”

Immediate Results

The hard work Bregman put in during the day showed immediate results. He helped turn a 2-1 lead into a 5-1 lead when he pinch-hit for Masataka Yoshida against lefty Drew Pomeranz. Bregman connected on an 83.4 mph knuckle-curve, sending the ball 402 feet to left field.

“Just obviously just to try and help this team win a ballgame,” Bregman said. “Playing a really good team out there. I mean, the atmosphere here has been great for three days. It felt like playoff baseball. Feel like two good teams, two playoff teams getting after it. Just really happy that we came out on top today.”

Support from the Team

Manager Alex Cora had discussed with Bregman before the game whether he was comfortable pinch-hitting. Bregman assured Cora that he felt good. Head athletic trainer Brandon Henry also gave the third baseman the green light in case Cora needed him in the late innings.

“It just played into our advantage in that situation,” Cora said. “Lefty on the mound, Masa coming up. ... The kid did what he usually does.”