Battling trade rumors and reduced playing time, Kevin Youkilis was slotted back into the lineup on Sunday. Despite the stress, despite sitting for three straight games, the third baseman delivered one final gem.
In the seventh inning of the 9-4 win against Atlanta, Youkilis hammered a ball into the outfield, sped around the bases and slid in for an unconventional RBI triple. The sequence also symbolized Youkilis' unconventional legacy in Boston.
When he was called up in 2004, Youkilis wasn't blessed with athletic talent. He wasn't a speedster. He wasn't a monster masher. If anything, Youkilis was recognized for employing one of the ugliest batting stances in baseball history.
Yet he overcame the odds, honing his craft –– whether on offense or defense –– en route to becoming a three-time, All-Star and Gold Glove winner. That grit and determination also lifted the Red Sox to two World Series title in 2004 and 2007.
"[He] worked and willed his way into being an All-Star player," Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said. "He went from a good player to an All-Star player through sheer force of will and hard work. Obviously, a huge catalyst for us and a huge part of the middle of our lineup for several years."
Drafted out of Cincinnati in the eighth round of the 2001 MLB Draft, Youkilis uncharacteristically achieved his success through on-base percentage. Whether it was scattering singles or drawing walks, Youkilis always found ways to get on the base paths.
That reputation earned him the nickname the "Greek God of Walks." It wasn't flashy, but flashiness wasn't his style. In Boston, Youkilis brought a blue-collar approach to baseball, maximizing the most out of the fundamentals.
It aided his power surge at one point, when he belted 29 and 27 home runs in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Reflecting on Youkilis' career from an analyst's point of view, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine raved about that tenacity.
"His work ethic, his dedication, his ability on the field –– he can never come off the field with a clean uniform," Valentine said. "He always gave everything he had. The fans here get it."
Youkilis endeared himself to fans because of his grittiness. Despite lacking the chiseled frame, the speed, the power, the defense, Youkilis managed to shine for the Red Sox with the basic essentials.
For those reasons, the Fenway faithful could identify with him. They recognized his ability to exceed expectations with chants of "Yoooouuukk", a daily occurrence for the majority of nine years in Fenway Park.
And on Sunday, Youkilis earned that love one last time.
Despite all the uncertainty in his life –– on and off the field –– he delivered an RBI triple, a feat that requires power and speed.Those characteristics were never his strong suits.
Even so, Youkilis punctuated his unconventional career with the Red Sox with an unconventional at-bat, an ending that appropriately symbolized his legacy in Boston.
"There’s no doubt about it," Valentine said. "It was perfect."
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