BOSTON — In his debut season with the Boston Red Sox, Alex Bregman’s contribution goes well beyond statistical measures, according to manager Alex Cora. Through Tuesday’s game at Fenway Park, Boston boasts a 41-24 home record, a marked improvement over last year’s 38-43 mark, helping keep the team firmly in the American League wild-card hunt.

Last season’s lineup didn’t feature Bregman as a core presence, but this year, with him anchoring third base, Cora has noticed a significant shift in the team’s mindset and energy at Fenway Park.

Changing the Team’s Attitude and Energy at Fenway

Alex Cora highlighted the importance of playing well on home turf after the Red Sox’s recent results.

“What we’ve been talking about the whole time, we have to be better at home. We have to, and that’s what makes it great and we’re doing that,”

he said.

“Every day you come here, we’re excited about it. There were a few times over the last three years that we weren’t good here at Fenway Park. We’re enjoying it.”

The manager credits Bregman for elevating the overall atmosphere in the clubhouse.

“I think it’s a different group starting with Alex. Since he got here, I had a sense that the baseball side of it will get better because that’s who he is and that’s what he brings, and that’s what I told the coaching staff the next day we signed him. He’s going to challenge everybody here, including me, from noon all the way till midnight. He will challenge it, and that’s what he does. The baseball conversations that were good in the past, now they’re great.”

Leadership and Team Resilience Amid Transitions

While challenging a manager might seem problematic in some cases, Cora stresses that Bregman’s presence actually strengthens the clubhouse unity, especially after handling the major trade sending longtime star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Cora remarked,

“It’s been fun. Just the way we are handling stuff, the way we are playing, the way we’re going about everything, it’s fun. Winning is better than losing, right?”

He also reflected on the challenge of moving past that trade.

“We made the big decision with Raffy and we had to learn again because we were playing good baseball. The whole thing going to San Fran was a little bit tough for the team, but then we got here and we turned the page.”

Bregman’s Performance Metrics Reinforce Value

Beyond leadership, Bregman’s on-field performance has been impressive since returning from a right quad strain on July 11. He reached base safely in 54 of his last 62 games and in 24 of 26 starts over that stretch. Among primary third basemen, he leads with an OPS of .925 and a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 152, based on a minimum of 50 plate appearances.

These figures highlight Bregman’s consistent ability to contribute offensively while also bringing a new intensity that energizes the Red Sox.

Experience and Aspiration Fueling the Playoff Push

With the regular season’s final weeks unfolding, Bregman’s experience in high-pressure situations is proving invaluable. Having won two World Series titles with the Houston Astros over nine years, he brings a veteran presence that Boston hopes will propel them into the postseason. Although his future with the team remains uncertain due to an opt-out clause after this season, his influence continues to motivate the club during this crucial stretch.

As long as postseason contention remains a possibility, Bregman is expected to keep challenging every layer of the organization, aiming to push the Red Sox deeper into October baseball this year.