‘Built for Boston’ star leading Red Sox to his October playground

• Alex Bregman reached the postseason every full year of his career with the Astros.
• Signed late in free agency, Bregman has been an All-Star and veteran leader for Boston.
• Red Sox have firm grasp on AL wild-card spot and should continue Bregman’s streak.

PHOENIX — The season ends for more than 500 players and 18 teams in the next three weeks, with All-Stars like Mike Trout and teams like the Colorado Rockies once again having their seasons expire in September, forgetting October even exists on the baseball calendar.

For Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman, the month of September has only meant one thing:

It’s the preseason for the postseason.

Bregman, the three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, is baseball’s only current player who has been to the postseason every year since his first full season in 2017 with the Houston Astros.

No one in baseball has a longer streak.

Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies is missing out on the playoffs for the first full season in his career, a streak that began in 2018. Bregman’s former teammate, Astros All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve, has played in every postseason since 2017, too, but he missed the postseason in four of his first five years.

Los Angeles Dodgers three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw missed the postseason at the beginning of his career and was injured for their 2024 World Series championship run. Yankees MVP Aaron Judge was home during the 2023 playoffs.

Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman has been to the postseason eight times, but only once since 2020.

Dodgers All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman missed postseasons until his run began in 2018 for Atlanta and Los Angeles. And shortstop Mookie Betts, the three-time World Series champion, has been to the postseason eight times, but missed it in 2019 and during his first full season of 2015.

But here is Bregman once again, playing this year for the Red Sox instead of the Astros, and heading back for another October run.

“Fingers crossed we get to do it again, and the streak doesn’t end,’ Bregman tells USA TODAY Sports. “Believe me, it’s a whole lot of fun. Just being in a playoff race in September is awesome. It allows you to lock in on the present moment and focus on the game at hand, and not get too far ahead of yourself – or think too much in the past.

“That’s the best part about playing in pressure-packed games, knowing that the next pitch is always the most important one.’

Bregman has become a modern-day Derek Jeter with his postseason run. Jeter won the first of his five World Series titles in his first full season with the Yankees in 1996, and played in the postseason 12 consecutive seasons before the Yankees missed the playoffs in 2008.

Bregman won the World Series with the Astros in his first full season in 2017, and with the Red Sox having a five-game lead for at least a wild-card berth, this should make it nine consecutive years.

“It’s special, it really is,’ Bregman says. “I hope I’m playing in October as long as I play baseball.’

Bregman, of course, isn’t single-handedly leading his teams to the playoffs every year, but it’s not just a sheer coincidence, either. There’s a reason Bregman has become the face of the Red Sox since Rafael Devers was dumped and shipped off to San Francisco.

“Him, Chapman, those two have been part of winning teams,’ Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, “and they understand what it means. So, it’s important. He has played meaningful games in September his whole career. Every game that he has played in his career has meant something in September. There’s not many like that.

“With the ups and downs, he’s not going to panic. He’s going to be ready to play. He’s going to help them through the process and it’s great that we have him in the clubhouse.’

Bregman has been ‘real deal’ for Red Sox

Bregman and his leadership are more vital than ever after losing rookie sensation Roman Anthony for the rest of the regular season with a strained oblique. Gold Glove outfielder Wilyer Abreu, who was leading the team with 22 homers at the time he was injured in mid-August, is nearing a return.

“He’s a guy that I’ve absolutely respected from Day 1,’ Red Sox infielder Nathaniel Lowe says. “Obviously, his resume is well respected, but he does everything, whether he’s vocal in a scouting report meeting, talking to you about the technical aspects to hitting, to just winning.

“Having a guy in the mix like that all of the time, it’s just good for the rest of the group, whether it’s first-time guys or guys who are looking to get back and prove something, like me.’

Says outfielder Rob Refsnyder: “He’s the best, man. He prepares really well. He’s invested in how everyone’s doing. He’s the real deal.’

Lowe, who won a World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023 and was in the World Series in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Rays, will tell you that Bregman hardly was the most lovable guy in their Astros-Rangers rivalry during his four years in Texas.

They were incensed when Bregman blurted out after winning the AL West in 2023: “People were wondering what it was going to be like if the Astros didn’t win the division. I guess we’ll never know.’

Rangers third baseman Corey Seager, MVP of the 2023 World Series, came back and mocked Bregman during their celebration: “I’ve just got one thing to say. Everybody was wondering what would happen if the Rangers wouldn’t win the World Series. I guess we’ll never know.’’

And dropped the mic.

Yet, as much as the two teams hated one another, the Rangers still had ultimate respect for Bregman.

“I didn’t expect any animosity from him after playing against him in the division,’ Lowe says. “And even when we were competing, I never really took anything personally aggressive, anyway. He was just celebrating a win when he made those comments that circled back to us.

“That’s all in the spirit of competition.’

‘Alex is built for Boston’

Bregman’s personality and leadership is a chip off the block of Red Sox great Dustin Pedroia. He aggravated his opponents with his braggadocio and aggressive style of play but was one of the most respected players in the game. You hated him on the other side of the field, but, oh, did you love him if you were wearing a Red Sox uniform.

“Alex is built for Boston,’ Pedroia says. “That environment changes you. I talked to him a little bit. He loves it in Boston. He’s fit to play there, and he knows what it means.

“It’s working out great, so he’s got to keep it going.’

Bregman, who nearly signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent to play for manager A.J. Hinch again, indeed loves playing for the Red Sox. He signed a three-year, $120 million contract with opt outs this year, giving him the opportunity to depart if he wishes – or at least to use the leverage to get a long-term contract.

The strategy may be for Bregman to opt out and then have the Red Sox – who saved about $255 million by trading Devers – turn around and use a chunk of that savings to keep Bregman. With Bregman hitting just .117 in his last 15 games since Aug. 23, he realizes he needs to revert to being the hitter who was batting .348 with a .969 OPS in his first 19 games of August, to make the decision a no-brainer.

“It’s such a great baseball city, and Fenway Park has been awesome,’ says Bregman, who calls one of his favorite moments meeting Red Sox Hall of Famer Wade Boggs. “Fenway has been rocking. I feel like winning baseball and the belief in Boston is back, and I’ve really enjoyed it. Everyone in Boston loves the Red Sox, and when we’re winning, you can really feel that energy.’

It has been four years since the Red Sox were in the playoffs, and the last time they had a winning record, but even without Anthony and Abreu now they’ve been rolling. They are 37-21 since the start of July, the second-best record in baseball behind only the Milwaukee Brewers.

They have been tenacious, certainly resilient, and with Garrett Crochet (14-5, 2.67 ERA), Brayan Bello (11-6, 3.12 ERA) and Lucas Giolito (10-3, 3.38 ERA) atop the rotation, and Chapman’s dominance (retiring 50 consecutive batters without a hit since July 23), they could be a living nightmare for any team they face in October.

“This team reminds me of some of my earlier years in Houston,’ Bregman says. “When so many guys are young, everyone in here wants to learn and get better, and the focus is on winning. It’s a lot of fun to be in this environment.

“The camaraderie is great in here too. This team hangs out a lot on and off the field. It’s fantastic.’

Bregman, 31, who’s in his ninth full season, is the one largely responsible for this cohesiveness. Teammates migrate to his locker before games to talk strategy and the opposing pitcher. They talk on the bench during games. And afterwards, they’ll frequently congregate with Bregman holding court.

“Obviously, what he does on the field is incredible,’ Crochet says, “but what he does in the clubhouse is really special. He’s a great mentor for the young guys. It’s cool having a guy to talk to prior to the game, and then after the game he loves to talk about either what transpired that day or planning for the next. I can’t say enough good stuff what he means to this team.’

Alex Bregman, confirmed ‘baseball rat’

It was during the winter of 2021-22 when Bregman was actively recruiting All-Star shortstop Trevor Story to join the Astros. The Astros had an opening with Carlos Correa departing as a free agent, and Story was available at the same time after six years with the Colorado Rockies.

Story wound up signing with the Red Sox on a six-year, $140 million deal, and when Bregman hit free agency and went unsigned with spring training camps opening, it was Story’s turn to recruit Bregman to Boston.

“He’s obviously been a really good player for a long time,’ Story says, “and there was always mutual respect across the game for him. Now that I’ve been with him, it just confirms that he’s a baseball rat. He’s obsessed with the game, just his impact on the offense and defense, and helping the young guys has been huge.’

Now, with less than three weeks left to play, this is where all of the hard work, preparation and cohesiveness could pay dividends. The Red Sox know they belong in October. Even though they’re chasing the Toronto Blue Jays and their hated rivals, the Yankees, they refuse to abandon their hopes of winning the AL East.

Besides, not to be greedy, but Bregman would love to keep his streak alive of not only reaching the playoffs every year – but also winning a division title every full year, too. His Astros teams won the AL West every season but the shortened 2020 COVID year.

“It’s a tough division, and obviously we’re a few games back right now, but we are still fighting for that division title,’ Bregman says. “If we finish strong, we can do it.’

If not, and the Blue Jays wind up winning the AL East, the first round of the playoffs is lining up to be the Red Sox against the Yankees in a best-of-three wild-card series – with the sounds of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline’ or Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York’ in the air.

“It’s so cool playing against those guys,’ Bregman says. “Just fun games, pressure-packed, great environment. It was a lot of fun living out that childhood dream watching those games on TV and watching them play in October.’’

Bregman pauses, exhales, and says, “Playing baseball in October, that’s what it’s all about.’’

Really, it’s all he knows.

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