For Anthony Seigler, this Red Sox streak has been a ‘blessing’ — on and off the field

As a high school player in Georgia, Anthony Seigler was the kind of prospect scouts dream about. He was an athletic switch-hitting catcher with power from both sides of the plate and speed to be an effective base stealer.

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Seigler was even a switch-pitcher, throwing 90 miles per hour with his right arm and 85 with his left. He had all five tools and then some.

The Yankees selected Seigler with the 23rd pick of the 2018 draft, confident he would establish himself as a big leaguer.

Eight long years later, at the age of 27, it has finally happened with the Red Sox.

“I would have never expected it to end up this way, but I’m thankful it did,” Seigler said Tuesday before the Red Sox-Orioles game at Fenway Park was rained out. “It was a different road than what I expected.”

With Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Marcelo Mayer on the injured list, Seigler became the everyday second baseman last month and has started 12 games in the current 14-game win streak.

He has hit safely in 14 of 21 games since June 23, contributing 8 extra-base hits, 8 walks, and 7 RBIs. The Sox are 19-6 in games Seigler has started and 13-3 when he bats leadoff despite his .232 on-base percentage in that spot.

Seigler has hit .244 with a .706 OPS through 26 games in all. After a hot June, July has been much colder. But interim manager Chad Tracy has stayed with Seigler, even keeping him in the leadoff spot.

“I like the at-bat quality,” Tracy said. “Maybe not as many hits here in the last couple of weeks as he was getting early. But you get a lot of [deep] counts. … As hitters in the big leagues anywhere, you always go through ups and downs.”

Sox catcher Carlos Narváez played with Seigler in the Yankees organization at a time that organization was stocked with good catching prospects.

“He always played hard, like he’s doing now,” Narváez said. “That’s what I remember. He was the same guy in that sense. He was a catcher, but he played second base, too. I’m glad he’s here with us.”

Seigler spent seven years with the Yankees before getting released after the 2024 season. The power New York saw as a high school player hadn’t translated to the professional level.

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First-round picks almost always get second chances, and Seigler signed with the Brewers 15 days after the Yankees released him.

“I had a few choices, but I thought Milwaukee had the best plan in terms of developing me into a better player,” Seigler said. “It was eye-opening to hear what they thought of me.”

That proved true. Seigler made his major league debut the following June 15, starting at third base against the Mets.

Seigler hit .194 with a .510 OPS in 34 major league games that season but had an .892 OPS over 72 games with Triple-A Nashville. That led to the Red Sox picking him up in the six-player trade on the eve of spring training.

Seigler, Caleb Durbin, and Andruw Monasterio went to the Sox for Shane Drohan, David Hamilton, and Kyle Harrison.

The deal looked like thievery for the Brewers early in the season before Durbin started to hit. Now he, Seigler, and Monasterio have been contributors to the Sox winning 22 of their last 27 games and surging into postseason contention.

“It’s been an incredible time,” Seigler said. “I don’t think anybody would say it’s not exciting. I love being around everybody in this clubhouse.

“Being here and seeing how the fans have reacted, it’s amazing. It’s the most fun I’ve had playing baseball in a long time.”

Seigler also has hit some major milestones in his personal life. He returned to Georgia for the All-Star break and proposed to his girlfriend, Amber. They’re also expecting their first child.

“It’s an exciting time for us, too, to be starting a family,” Seigler said. “She’s doing a great job, staying strong and keeping me humble. I’ve had a lot going on this season, and all of it has been a blessing.”

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