Newly signed Boston Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall doesn’t have much experience playing within the confines of Fenway Park.
Duvall has only played four games at Boston’s home turf after spending all nine seasons of his career in the National League. The unfamiliarity will present a challenge for Duvall when it comes to filling the outfield as he is expected to be the Red Sox’s daily midfielder.
“The biggest challenge will be the dimensions”, Duvall told reporters Wednesday, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “I’ve even thought about watching certain plays and learning how to hit the ball off the wall or put the ball in the gap. … I’m thinking about how I can try to familiarize myself with the park.”
One way Duvall wants to do that is to enlist the help of current members of the Red Sox, particularly Kiké Hernández, to bring him up to speed in his new outfield home.
Hernández, who helped recruit Duvall to Boston, should be a reliable source since he’s played at center with the Red Sox for the past two seasons and can offer Duvall advice to help him with his transition.
“Probably the first person I’ll ask for advice…it’s a very unique ballpark, it will take some work to get used to…” Duvall told reporters, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. “I’m ready for the challenge, I’m looking forward to it. To be honest, I can’t wait to get started.”
Duvall has the ability to play all three outfield positions but saw most of his time in midfield during a shortened 2022 season with the Atlanta Braves due to injury.