The Boston Red Sox (58-50) did not make many additions to their roster after the 2023 season. However, one addition that they did make has paid off in spades for the team so far. The Red Sox traded right-handed pitcher Nick Robertson and right-handed pitcher Victor Santos to the St. Louis Cardinals (56-54) for outfielder Tyler O'Neill on December 8th, 2023, and have been all the better for it.
O'Neill is having a career year with his new club. Entering Saturday with a .268/.357/.544 line with 22 home runs, and a 143 OPS+, the move has not only paid off for the Red Sox, but for O'Neill as well. He has already hit his 100th career home run this season, a feat he reached on July 27th, and he has an outside chance at reaching 500 career hits.
O'Neill debuted for the Cardinals on April 19th, 2018. He spent his first six Major League season in St. Louis prior to being traded to the Red Sox. While with the Cardinals, O'Neill batted .248/.318/.458 with 78 home runs and a 112 OPS+.
Injuries have plagued O'Neill throughout his career. In the six years with the Cardinals, he was placed on the injured list a total of 11 different times. Even this season, he has been placed on the injured list two separate times.
Despite the injuries, O'Neill now finds himself just 57 hits away from 500 on his career. It is a feat that would require him to set a new single-season career high in hits, but assuming he stays healthy, it is something that he could very well reach by the last day of the regular season.
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