'This ain't Florida anymore': WooSox brave cold temps for first day of practice at Polar Park

Tommy Cassell, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

WORCESTER — While José Flores walked out toward the outfield grass Tuesday afternoon at Polar Park, the Worcester Red Sox bench coach — bundled up in a blue oversized jacket and blue beanie — didn’t mince words with WooSox manager Chad Tracy.

“Hey skipper, this is totally unnecessary,” Flores said, half kidding.

“Nobody loves the cold more than Flo,” WooSox infielder Nick Sogard said, fully kidding.

For roughly 45 minutes, the Worcester Red Sox braved the chilly temperatures — which were in the high 30s — while the Triple-A club held its first outdoor practice of the spring.

After performing some stretching, throwing and fielding, the collection of WooSox players and coaches happily returned to the friendly confines of the clubhouse.

Home sweet home.

Bench coach José David Flores, left, and manager Chad Tracy hit ground balls to infielders on the first day of practice at Polar Park Tuesday.
Bench coach José David Flores, left, and manager Chad Tracy hit ground balls to infielders on the first day of practice at Polar Park Tuesday.

“I’m going to put my hands in a warmer,” Flores shouted.

Said Tracy: “That’s (enough) for outside for one day.”

“This ain’t Florida anymore,” WooSox catcher Nathan Hickey concluded.

That’s for sure. Beanies and baseball: Welcome to Worcester.

Utility player Romy Gonzales tosses the ball to second base while fielding grounders on the first day of practice at Polar Park Tuesday
Utility player Romy Gonzales tosses the ball to second base while fielding grounders on the first day of practice at Polar Park Tuesday

WooSox ready to go after successful 2023 season

Last year, the WooSox hit a few milestones despite having to deal with the rainiest summer in Worcester in 68 years.

The WooSox set a franchise record for wins (79) while breaking the record for total player moves (271) in a season — the most of any Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate.

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The team also set three other Red Sox Triple-A records: most home runs (215) and stolen bases (197) by a team in a season, and most steals in a season by a player, courtesy of David Hamilton, who swiped 57 bases before getting the call to Boston to finish the year with the Red Sox.

David Hamilton swings the bat in the cage on the first day of practice at Polar Park Tuesday.
David Hamilton swings the bat in the cage on the first day of practice at Polar Park Tuesday.

After an entertaining 2023 campaign both on and off the field, the WooSox are prepared to turn the page.

“We’re ready to go,” said Tracy, who was voted “Best Managerial Prospect” by his peers in Baseball America’s annual survey last summer. “After the way the last two years have gone; we’ve gone through roster changes like you can’t believe, ups and downs, winning streaks and losing streaks, (and) at this point, we have a pretty good handle on everything we can expect.”

WooSox players begin to warm up as the grounds crew works on the first day of practice at Polar Park Tuesday.
WooSox players begin to warm up as the grounds crew works on the first day of practice at Polar Park Tuesday.

‘Good to be back’

As outfielder Dalton Guthrie watched catcher/infielder Tyler Heineman take swings inside the visitor’s batting cage at Polar Park, Guthrie, who signed with the Red Sox organization in February, asked a few of his new teammates if there were any good places to eat around Worcester.

From a buffalo wing joint, to a diner, to an Italian restaurant, three WooSox holdovers — outfielder Corey Rosier, and infielders Hamilton and Niko Kavadas dished out their favorite spots to make sure Guthrie had his bases covered.

Polar Park grounds crew workers add material to the infield as WooSox players begin to warm up on the first day of practice Tuesday.
Polar Park grounds crew workers add material to the infield as WooSox players begin to warm up on the first day of practice Tuesday.

“To be a guy that has answers to that (kind of question) is kind of cool,” Kavadas said. “It’s nice to be the guy that they come to.”

On Wednesday, Worcester Red Sox players and coaches will answer questions from the press inside their clubhouse as part of the team’s annual media day. The following day, the WooSox head to Allentown, Pennsylvania, to prepare for Friday's season opener with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

And a few days later, the WooSox host their home opener against the Buffalo Bisons.

WooSox pitchers throw in the bullpen on the first day of practice at Polar Park Tuesday.
WooSox pitchers throw in the bullpen on the first day of practice at Polar Park Tuesday.

With early weather forecasts predicting rain and more temperatures in the 30s next Tuesday, the Triple-A club based out of Worcester is just happy to be back home playing baseball.

Beanies galore.

David Hamilton, left, and Chase Meidroth field ground balls on the first day of WooSox practice at Polar Park Tuesday.
David Hamilton, left, and Chase Meidroth field ground balls on the first day of WooSox practice at Polar Park Tuesday.

“It’s cold,” Sogard said. “You know what you’re going to get the first month or two, but it’s all good though, it’s good to be back.”

“It’s really cold,” Tracy said. “But getting them out in the cold a little bit and getting them used to it, because we’re going to deal with that a lot in the first month of the season, is good, but it’s been really nice getting back.”

—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Red Sox hold first practice at Polar Park before 2024 season

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