WORCESTER — While Worcester Red Sox players warmed up ahead of their game against the Columbus Clippers April 10, the videoboards behind them at Polar Park showed the broadcast of the Masters Tournament.
With the popular golf tourney taking place 950 miles south in Augusta, Georgia, players from the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate took their turns putting on a mini-golf setup inside their ballpark in the Canal District.
“It’s always fun to take your mind off baseball,” WooSox outfielder and Red Sox top prospect Roman Anthony said.
The WooSox social media team set up behind a green putting mat — with a hole and mini white flag on it — pregame and invited players to take their shot at sinking putts.
Although Anthony claimed he sank his first shot, video evidence proves it took the 20-year-old three total tries.
“It wasn’t that hard,” said Anthony, who roped a double in his first at-bat a day later.
Nick Sogard, on the other hand, had the help of WooSox bullpen coach Noah Junis — who served as Sogard’s caddie. But after receiving a read of a right-to-left break on the putt, and lipping out on his first try, Sogard sunk his second putt by hitting it just straight.
“Drilled it, of course,” said Sogard, who served as Worcester’s second baseman April 11. “Should of stuck with my gut. We’ll blame that on Junis for sure.”
Unfortunately for Chad Tracy, he had nobody to blame but himself. The WooSox manager missed all four of his putts. “I didn’t get it in,” Tracy admitted.
No worries, baseball (and the dugout) is his happy place.
All in all, players were happy to turn in their bats for a putter for a few moments on April 10. Maybe this will become a tradition — unlike any other — each spring for the Worcester Red Sox at ...
