Grady Sizemore, Now the Red Sox Starting Center Fielder, Hit His First Home Run Since 2011

Grady Sizemore homered Monday for the Red Sox as Boston began its defense of their World Series crown in Baltimore vs. the Orioles. The significance here? It’s the first home run for Sizemore since the 2011 — a span of a mere 990 days.

Once upon a time Sizemore was hailed as the game’s next great centerfielder. That was a looooooong time ago. So long ago that there were these crazy things called “magazines” made out of paper that people used to have delivered to their home every week. I think people read them. I’m not sure. My memory is hazy and rattled with Twitter-induced ADD.

Anyways, Sports Illustrated declared Sizemore as one of the best players of his generation.

At the time, SI wasn’t too crazy making that declaration. Sizemore, a five-tool talent, made the All Star team from 2006-08, leading the American League in doubles as a 23-year-0ld in 2006 with the Indians. Injuries derailed his career. He played in only 106 games in 2009, 33 the following year and just 71 in 2011 — his last year in the Majors prior to Monday.

The Red Sox will actually need Sizemore to produce with Shane Victorino beginning the year on the disabled list and Jacoby Ellsbury now wearing pinstripes.

On a lighter note, it’s a shame the Red Sox and Mets don’t play each other in 2014. It would have been a lot fun to see Sizemore hit against TBL-favorite Bartolo Colon, a mere 12 years after they were traded for one another back when the Expos still existed. We’ll save the Expos history lesson for another day, youngsters.