Ben Cherington

I think he was battling some physical stuff maybe the last couple years in Tampa.

Maybe crept into the defensive side of the game, but he came into spring training feeling good physically.

He's made some adjustments in his pre-pitch.

If you watch it, we have him as improved range this year.

His first step in range is better.

He's really played well defensively from our view and

he wanted to do that he challenged himself coming into spring training we told him like you're going to get every opportunity to play second base we want you to do that and he's he stepped up to that challenge done a really good job i think the second thing is just he brings a he's played in a lot you know like with that division at least he's played in a lot of really competitive baseball games during his career and he's played for a team that has to do things differently as you know to win games and so

I think he's been a real good model for other players.

When we have to do something, if it's a pinch hit, if it's putting on a bunt, if it's these different things you do to try to win a game, it's just kind of old hat for him.

He reacts exactly the way you'd want to, too.

He's been a really good

veteran stable presence and good model for our younger players.

Well, we think so.

Obviously, it always feels better after, you know, you're on the winning side, right?

But, no, I think it definitely has been, really, since the first day of spring training.

Certainly, Donnie and the coaching staff were part of that.

Um, but one thing that attracted us to Ryan as we got to know him and of course, you know, do your due diligence, do the best you can to understand, you know, who guys are.

And, um, we just got feedback from so many different people, teammates, coaches, clubbies, you know, scouts, media, you name it.

Um, about this guy that, you know, he just, he just was someone who put the team first.

Um,