NEW YORK — Moving up and down the farm system for the majority of his career, Rob Refsnyder didn’t always know his professional baseball fate, at times thinking he could be removed from the game he grew up playing.
In a league where many players, especially those who bounce around leagues, decide to eventually hang up their gloves once they enter their thirties, Refsynder didn’t give up on his journey. That decision has paid dividends.
Just eight months after turning 30 years old in 2021, Refsnyder signed a minor-league deal with the Worcester Red Sox, where he stood out, batting .400 to earn a call-up to MLB’s Boston Red Sox in 2022. Arriving back in the big leagues, he would fittingly receive a number he’d never before sported in the big leagues. The number “30” would become proof on his back that age really can be just a number.
Refsnyder, a Arizona Wildcats star outfielder, was named the Men’s College World Series’ Most Outsanding Player during the UA’s fourth and most recent national championship run in 2012.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder celebrates after his game-winning, 10th-inning RBI single against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park in Boston on Aug. 12.
He turned pro after that season, but it’s been in the latter half of his career — going from MLB journeyman to mainstay on a playoff-hopeful Boston club — that’s seen a makeover in his game.
Enduring a rocky road to get to his current position and having been attached to seven MLB clubs during his first six pro seasons — all of which saw him play in the minors during those respective stops — Refsnyder has learned first-hand that life isn’t easy in baseball; in order to make it, he knows, one must be both mentally and physically ready for anything that comes their way.
“Baseball is a hell of a game, and it’s very challenging,” Refsnyder said before a recent Red Sox matchup with the New York Mets at Citi Field. “It’ll test your character, test your willpower.”
Since getting called up to Boston’s 40-man roster on June 10, 2022, Refsnyder, despite being on the plus side of 30, has put together the best statistical campaigns of his MLB career over the last three seasons. This season, he’s engineered career-highs in hits and home runs (nine) to go with a .274 average and 35 RBIs in 89 games.
Boston Red Sox left fielder Rob Refsnyder comes oh-so-close to making the catch on a ball hit by Gleyber Torres of the New York Yankees during the sixth inning on July 26 in Boston.
The now-33-year-old attributed his career resurrection to learning more about his swing and components of the game that he does and may not do as well as he matures.
“It just comes with age and more experience,” Refsnyder said.
The Red Sox outfielder didn’t take all the credit for his late success, however, noting that he’s had “great coaches along the way,” including his former UA coach Andy Lopez, who Refsnyder said reaches out to him occasionally.
“You gotta have a great support system — great family, great friends — helping you, supporting you along the way,” Refsnyder said.
“I’m very blessed to be in the major leagues. There’s a lot of people that would love to be in my position,” he added. “It’s been a challenge but it’s been a great journey along the way.”
Reminiscing on Tucson, playing for UA
During his final year playing for UA in 2012, Refsnyder produced arguably one of the best seasons by a Wildcat in recent memory, batting .364 and logging 66 RBIs. During the Wildcats’ unbeaten postseason run on the College World Series, he showed up when it mattered most, accumulating 10 hits and five RBIs during the UA’s trophy-claiming stint in Omaha.
Arizona’s Robert Refsnyder (2) celebrates with teammate Konner Wade (48) after Refsnyder scored the go-ahead run against South Carolina on a double by Brandon Dixon in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the finals of the 2012 Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 25, 2012. Arizona won the game 4-1, taking the best-of-three final series and the overall CWS championship.
Although it’s been more than a decade since attending the UA, Refsnyder recalled core moments during his time in Tucson, such as meeting his wife, former UA swimmer Monica Drake, and attending the ceremony at McKale Center following Arizona winning the national championship.
Refsnyder, who now makes his offseason home in Phoenix, noted that the last time he went back to Tucson was to be there as UA baseball head coach Chip Hale got introduced as the Wildcats’ newest manager. He added that he will potentially go back to the Old Pueblo this offseason as “it’s fun to go back to U of A,” he said.
“I love Tucson. Tucson is a great city and always treated me very, very well,” Refsnyder said.
When transitioning to his new life in Boston, it didn’t take Refsnyder long to feel at home, with former Wildcat pitcher and infielder Bobby Dalbec — a few years later a core part of the Wildcats’ 2016 CWS runner-up team — already a part of the Red Sox organization. Dalbec was the first person Refsnyder reached out to when arriving. Refsnyder added that he hopes that Dalbec, whose minor league numbers have always been strong despite some struggles in the majors, gets called back up to the big at some point. Dalbec, who was designated for assignment by Boston on Sunday, is a “really solid player,” Refsnyder said.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder reacts after his solo home run during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 23 in Boston.
A ‘leader in the clubhouse’
Not only has the veteran Refsnyder been making a difference on the field, where he currently has the fifth-best batting average and third-best on-base percentage on his team, but he’s been one of the Red Sox’s leaders, earning the respect of his teammates.
Refsnyder, who is called “Ref” by his teammates, was able to obtain a leadership role through his calm demeanor in big situations, the years of minor and major league experience, and the full output that he gives every time he takes the field.
“He’s a leader in the clubhouse,” Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino said.
“He never comes in here 75, 80 percent, he’s always at 100.”
Future in baseball
With three weeks left in the regular season and Boston in the Wild Card chase — the Red Sox were four games back of the final American League bid entering play Monday — Refsnyder said that at this stage in his career, he does not care about individual stats. He’d rather make the postseason with the Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder hits a two-rum home run during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles on May 28 in Baltimore. The Red Sox won 8-3.
Refsnyder will have a team option next season and hopes to have it picked up. If not, he said he will take a step back and see his options in the future, with the intention of “staying in baseball in some capacity.” He also threw in the possibility of someday becoming a college athletic director, adding that being an A.D would be a “pretty good challenge” for a post-playing career.
“Baseball has given me a lot of opportunities and I am forever grateful for the sport,” Refsnyder said.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be around some people that have impacted my baseball career, and hopeful I could do that for the next generation.”
