Dalbec makes history with latest homer
Bobby Dalbec already had announced his presence to Major League Baseball with authority. On Thursday, the third-ranked Red Sox prospect made sure the message was loud and clear. Dalbec homered in his fifth straight game en route to Boston's 4-3 win over Tampa Bay. With that shot, the infielder became
Dalbec homered in his fifth straight game en route to Boston's 4-3 win over Tampa Bay. With that shot, the infielder became the first player in the modern era with a five-game home run streak in the first 10 games of his career, breaking the record Philadelphia’s Rhys Hoskins (14 games) set in 2017. He's also the fifth player in Major League history to smack at least six long balls in his first 10 games.
Another day, another @BobbyDalbec 🚀.
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) September 11, 2020
Make it 5⃣ straight games with a homer for the @RedSox No. 3⃣ prospect. pic.twitter.com/VogHiYrFKB
Facing Rays southpaw Josh Fleming in the top of the fifth inning, Dalbec punished a 1-0 changeup to right field to give the Red Sox a 3-2 lead. The 6-foot-4 native of Washington struck out in his other three at-bats.
Dalbec's streak began on Sept. 5 at Fenway Park, when he smacked a full-count fastball from Toronto's Chase Anderson over the Green Monster in the second inning. The next day, the 25-year-old went opposite field off Blue Jays lefty Robbie Ray.
A doubleheader against the Phillies brought more damage. With a full count in the sixth in the first game, Dalbec hit a curveball from right-hander Tommy Hunter over the wall in left-center. In the nightcap, the University of Arizona product smashed a two-run homer off righty David Phelps. He finished up with 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
It has been fun to watch for Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke.
“Pretty cool seeing Bobby coming up his first year and doing this. It’s pretty amazing, actually,” Roenicke told reporters after Thursday's game. “After he strikes out, he’s not down and there’s still a lot of fight in him. When you strike out, it’s easy to get down and upset about it, and you don’t bounce back and have that same fight in you. What he’s doing is really good to be able to forget about that last at-bat -- the last two or three -- and put together a good one, and when they make a mistake, you hit it.”
Dalbec is batting .250 with a .750 slugging percentage, six homers, nine RBIs and seven runs in 10 games this season. He's also struck out 19 times.
Tampa Bay's No. 19 prospect