Red Sox Manager Compares Astros Slugger to David Ortiz

The Boston Red Sox (61-54) are no stranger to sluggers. Having faced Aaron Judge consistently for the better part of a decade, and having employed David Ortiz for the better part of two decades before that, they know a slugger when they see one. They have seen one this weekend in Houston Astros' (61-55) designated hitter Yordan Alvarez .

Alvarez, 27, is in his sixth Major League season, all with the Astros. For his career, he has batted .297/.390/.581 with 153 home runs, 442 RBI, and a 165 OPS+. But, wait! There's more!

While those numbers are more than impressive, what he has been able to do when the Astros travel to Fenway Park may be even more so. In 11 games at Fenway Park, Alvarez has batted .463/.569/1.024 with six home runs, and 15 RBI, including his two home run game on Saturday. His 1.593 OPS at Fenway is his highest at any park in which he has played at least 10 games.

Alvarez's ability to mash at Fenway Park has the Red Sox reminiscing on David Ortiz.

In the post-game press conference, Red Sox Manager Alex Cora said, "Being a lefty, he hits lefties. It seems like he likes hitting here. The wall keeps him close, he can shoot the other way. He’s the closest thing to David, probably, in the game. Very, very similar to David Ortiz.”

Red Sox star Rafael Devers gave high praise for the Astros' slugger as well, "To me, he’s the best hitter right now in the big leagues. As a position player, you see him and he looks very uncomfortable to pitch to. So I don't know how the pitcher does it, but I feel like he's very good.”

Devers, in the hunt for his first American League MVP award this season, knows a good hitter when he sees one.

Yordan Alvarez is impressive, to say the least. He can hit for average, for power, and he has a high walk rate. And at only 27, the David Ortiz comparisons may continue for years to come.