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Red Sox manager on Allen Craig: 'He looks different than when we got him'

Jim Rogash / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell's job just got a little harder.

Already tasked with finding at-bats for a surplus of offensive players, Farrell said he's been impressed this spring by the early work of Allen Craig.

Farrell said Craig looks physically stronger and is showing "much more life in the bat" than he did when the Red Sox acquired him last summer from the St. Louis Cardinals for John Lackey. Craig, whose production was hindered by a left foot Lisfranc injury, hit just .128 with one homer in 107 plate appearances following the trade.

"The foot's not an issue at this point and we don't anticipate it to be," Farrell told ESPN Boston. "You just see increased core strength and better bat speed. And I know it’s just BP, but he looks different than when we got him. Let's face it: The shock of the trade is in the rear-view mirror more so now than when he came to us."

Craig is expected to compete for playing time this season at the corner outfield spots, and possibly first base - two positions he spent the majority of his time at in St. Louis. It was there that Craig established himself as one of top hitters in the National League, slashing .312/.364/.500 from 2011-13.

"Baseball is crazy sometimes," Craig said Sunday. "You're up and down. It goes for players and teams. Last year was a learning experience for everybody. It wasn't an easy year. There's a lot of competition here, and I think competition is good for everybody. I think it gets the best out of you. So I'm just trying to get myself right.

"I know I can hit in this league, so it's doing the work and getting that rhythm back."

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