The Bees are a Buzzing

Whenever referencing "Killer Bees" - the nickname that initially became a staple in the baseball culture in the mid 1990s and continued well into the middle of the next decade - you immediately hone in upon four members of the Houston Astros from that particular era.

The original "Bees" club included Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Derek Bell with room eventually made for Lance Berkman. What helps to distinguish this particular quartet of ballplayers is that they went on to slug a combined 1,140 home runs and appeared in 16 All-Star games while members of the Astros.

Not to apply even more pressure to a situation that's been taking shape inside Fenway Park over the past few seasons, but the Red Sox marketing folks might be wise to jump on the "Killer Bees" bandwagon now before their youthful collection of "Bee" players - Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. - become full fledged A-listers.

What helps to differentiate Boston's version of the "Killer Bees" from the Houston rendition is that Bogaerts, Betts and Bradley are tried-and-true Red Sox in the strictest sense of the word. Betts and Bradley were part of an excellent 2011 draft class - one that also included Travis Shaw, Blake Swihart and Henry Owens - while Boagerts in 2009 was signed as an international free agent at the tender age of 16.

To further illustrate, examine what the Astros faced in their quest to form and establish a core that in turn would simplify the task of building around them.

Biggio and Berkman were first-round picks and broke into the majors with Houston. Bagwell can also claim the same, though he was originally property of the Red Sox before being shipped to the then-National League club in 1990 for reliever Larry Anderson. Bell was also acquired via trade.

Boston's "Killer Bees" arrangement doesn't feel forced or artificial. As they progressed through the minor-league ranks, many industry types began warming up to the idea of Bogaerts, Betts and Bradley becoming key building blocks that could one day emerge as Red Sox regulars.

The same sentiments are clearly shared among the front office folks on Yawkey Way. While there's no official count, you have to wonder how many trade proposals were stopped dead in their tracks the moment that opposing general managers mentioned a deal that included any of their names.  

"Once you have a young team with hopefully some guys they want to build around, it's always good," Bogaerts said. "They're close friends of mine, so it makes it easier to blend in with them."

The Future is Here…

Bogaerts, Betts and Bradley don't just represent Boston's future. Whether the Red Sox can jump from consecutive last-place finishes and back into contention in the ultra competitive American League East will hinge upon 1). Bogaerts' ability to become one of the game's best shortstops, 2). Betts' continued emergence as one of its best all-around players and, 3). Bradley proving that his offensive output from a season ago is not merely a mirage.

"We've gained a lot of confidence … the way they played and the way they developed and the way they continue to do so moving forward," said Red Sox general manager Mike Hazen, who was the farm director when Bogaerts, Betts and Bradley came into Boston's fold. "It's good to have excellent, young players."

On paper, that seems like a tall order - relying on a 20-something core to reshape a baseball landscape that's hungry to return to October and the postseason. Shouldn't that kind of pressure be reserved for the elder statesmen? The ones who have plenty of service time under their belts, plus a proven track record that offers some indication of what can be expected?

There's no arguing that Bogaerts (23-years-old), Betts (also 23) and Bradley (the group's elder statesman who turns 26 on April 19) are young in terms of major league experience. When you truly analyze what's on the cusp/horizon at Fenway, you realize that all of them have been growing up before our very eyes for some time now.

A buzzing sound that first surfaced during their respective stints in the low minors only intensified and grew louder as they passed through Portland and later Pawtucket. They were coming, and as Boston emerged as the next landing spot, a poignant question was raised: Just how good can these players be?

"They've already started to establish themselves at the big-league level," said Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski to the Boston Globe. "If you can have those players grow up together, and be together as your core for a long time, I think it's very unusual and it's a positive."

An Award-Winning 2015 Season…

When it comes to the makeup of Boston's roster, the demographics have clearly changed. Look at the list of award winners from the 2016 Boston Baseball Writers Awards Dinner. Bogaerts was named the team's most valuable player. Betts, who is actually a week younger than Bogaerts, won the hustle award. The comeback player of the year honor was bestowed upon Bradley.

In a nutshell, the January evening at Boston's Marriott Copley where Bogaerts, Betts and Bradley walked away with some impressive hardware represents the next wave of players to carry the torch after David Ortiz retires. Thanks to varying degrees of success that each of them achieved last season, that wave is cresting by the shore and eager to crash down with authority. 

"They're all coming from different angles, but they've been fun to watch," said Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, a former PawSox manager.

Added Red Sox assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez, "They're all exciting players who have come (to Boston) and put together good at-bats. They're going to struggle here and there, but it's important for them to stay patient and stay with the plan."

On the field, the growth of all three has been fairly obvious.

Bogaerts - An All-Around Success…

Bogaerts has gone from a key contributor on the 2013 World Series ball club to slumping for most of 2014 (.240 batting average) to emerging as arguably Boston's most consistent player on a daily basis in 2015. It was a season that saw him become a finalist for the Gold Glove award and hit .320 with 35 doubles and seven home runs as part of his team-best 196 hits.

"As a young player, it definitely was challenging," said Bogaerts, who hasn't made a return trip to the minors since appearing in 60 games for the PawSox in 2013. "You hear from a lot of different people, and sometimes mentally that can mess you up a little bit. You start learning how to deal with that."

Betts - Better Than The Rest…

A quiet and unassuming sort, Betts' 2015 output can best be summarized as a young player who started to piece everything together with each passing at-bat. On May 17, his average stood at .221. However, climbing out of such a deep hole didn't prove to be a daunting task. After bashing two home runs at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 30, Betts was up to .297. With four games remaining, he had an outside shot to join Bogaerts in the .300 club.  

Ultimately, Betts had to settle for a .291 average with 42 doubles and 18 home runs as part of his 174 hits. A PawSox contributor who hit .335 in 45 Triple-A games in 2014, Betts also stole 21 bases and earned praise for making the transition to the outfield after coming up through the system as a second baseman.

"Certainly it's up to management, but I would love to play with Jackie and Xander for a long time," said Betts. "We've got a pretty special thing going on."

JBJ - An Angel in the Outfield…

Bradley was the first member of the "Killer Bees" to burst onto the major-league scene. He became a household name during spring training of 2013 and landed a spot on Boston's opening day roster. For the record, his first game with the PawSox came after his first one in a Red Sox uniform.

McCoy Stadium is where Bradley wound up in each of the last three seasons when things didn't pan out the way he or the team had hoped in Boston. After two straight years of scuffling (offensively) in the majors, Bradley started to see positive results in 2015 that had many believing that he had finally turned the corner and figured out how to attack opposing major league pitchers.

The best thing that happened to JBJ was the Hall of Fame-esque offensive stretch he enjoyed last August 9 - September 7, when he hit .446 with 13 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 32 RBI and a 1.441 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). After putting up a humbling .198 batting average in 2014, the torrid surge was exactly what he personally needed and for others to see.

"At that particular time, it was like, 'See, this is what I've been trying to show [and] tell you all along. This is what I am capable of doing. If I wasn't capable of doing it, I wouldn't be doing it,'" said Bradley. "It's just all a matter of putting it together consistently and just improving on that and minimizing the slumps."

The lone PawSox player to participate in the 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game, Bradley ended up hitting .249 in 74 games with Boston while compiling a triple slash line of .335/.498/.832. He ended up leading Pawtucket in hitting (.305), homers (nine), on-base percentage (.382) and slugging (.472).

Though Bradley's offense has gone through peaks and valleys, his defense has always been his best asset. As Boston's right fielder, Betts is appreciative of what Bradley brings to the table in center field. His placement on the stadium's surface also provides him and his teammates with a prime spot to view Bradley and the spectacular plays that have become habit forming over the past couple of years.

"Being able to play with Jackie is a blessing," said Betts. "Behind closed doors, we talk about how we're going to play things. It's weird how we just trust each other out there."

The Bee's Future is Bright…

If the past few seasons have taught the Red Sox anything, it's that development isn't linear. As Bogaerts, Betts and Bradley have demonstrated, bumps and bruises go hand-in-hand in their quest to turn the corner and become bona fide major leaguers who go on to enjoy long and productive careers.

With all three offering tangible signs that Boston's present - as well as its future - are in good hands, it might only be a matter of time before "Killer Bees" is once again part of baseball's vernacular.