Nate Eaton will battle to make the team he grew up supporting.
The Boston Red Sox received a jolt late last season from Eaton, who batted .296 with nine stolen bases in 41 games. The utility player is now in the mix to earn a bench spot.
Playing with Boston represented a full-circle moment for Eaton, a longtime Red Sox fan. The 29-year-old told MassLive's Christopher Smith that he grew up "a J.D. Drew guy."
“I loved his swing," Eaton said of Drew. "It’s a sweet swing. And I just loved everything about the Red Sox."
Eaton explained that he started cheering for the Red Sox to emulate a youth travel ball teammate who liked them.
"I never had a team and I looked at all that stuff and I was like, ‘Dang, if I want to be like him and play like him, I guess I’ve got to be a Red Sox fan.’" Eaton recalled. "And that’s the moment I became a Red Sox fan."
Eaton isn't a comparable player to Drew, a career .278/.384/.489 hitter who smacked 31 home runs in 2004 and represented Boston as the 2008 All-Star Game MVP. The outfielder spent his final five seasons with the Red Sox, registering a .824 OPS.
On the other hand, Eaton has deposited just two homers in 268 career plate appearances. But his defensive versatility makes him a worthwhile depth option if he can sustain last year's results at the plate.
“I just know coming into camp that I’ve got to do everything I can to make an impression and work on the things I need to work on to carry whatever role they want me to have,” Eaton said.
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