The Regina Red Sox are still searching for consistency at the plate, but assistant general manager and hitting coach Mitch MacDonald believes the foundation is being built game by game.
Speaking on the Regina Red Sox Report on the SportsCage, MacDonald said the opening weeks of the Western Canadian Baseball League season have featured plenty of offence across the board, something he believes is common early in the summer schedule.
“It just kind of seemed almost across the board in the league those first couple of weeks — very high-scoring games,” MacDonald said. “Maybe hitters were seeing things a little more or were a little more in sync compared to pitching across the league.”
MacDonald added that things have started to settle down recently as pitchers find their rhythm. The Red Sox are coming off a stretch that included an 8–6 win over the Saskatoon Berries before back-to-back losses to Weyburn and Swift Current. Despite mixed results, MacDonald sees encouraging signs offensively.
“You’re finding ways to give yourself opportunities to win games,” he said. “You’re getting contributions from a little bit of everyone up and down the lineup.”
One of the biggest challenges for players arriving in the WCBL each summer remains adjusting to wooden bats after spending most of the spring playing college baseball with aluminum.
“There’s not a whole lot of forgiveness with wood bats,” MacDonald explained. “There’s not a lot of room to hide. You get exposed for the hitter that you are.”
MacDonald said the compressed 56-game schedule means hitters must adapt quickly while continuing to refine pitch selection and timing.
“You want your bats getting better every game,” he said. “Players will get their timing back quickly, but it doesn’t take long to lose it either.”
That development process becomes even more important against familiar East Division opponents. With matchups against Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Weyburn filling much of the schedule, MacDonald said the emphasis remains on allowing players to stay within their strengths rather than over-adjusting for opponents.
“At this level, you kind of just want players to do what they do well,” he said. “Approaches are tailor-made to what a guy does well.”
MacDonald also pointed to situational hitting as a major focus moving forward.
“Driving runners in with two outs is a big key part of the game,” he said. “The more that you can do that, the better off you are.”
Away from the field, MacDonald praised the atmosphere around Currie Field following upgrades introduced under new ownership. Among the additions are a new scoreboard with player graphics and replays, refreshed seating areas, food trucks, and a viewing area down the left-field line.
“It just adds an element that wasn’t there before,” MacDonald said. “I think fans have to be pretty happy with some of the upgrades around the ballpark.”
The Red Sox continue their busy week Tuesday night when they host the Saskatoon Berries at Currie Field.
Regina Red Sox schedule
- Tuesday, June 16 — vs. Saskatoon Berries, 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 17 — at Swift Current 57’s, 7 p.m.
- Thursday, June 18 — vs. Moose Jaw Miller Express, 7 p.m.
- Friday, June 19 — at Saskatoon Berries, 7 p.m.
- Saturday, June 20 — at Weyburn Beavers, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, June 21 — vs. Weyburn Beavers (doubleheader), 1 p.m.
