BOSTON — Matthew Lugo strolled through the visiting dugout at Fenway Park on Saturday afternoon with a glance to the Green Monster in left field.
While several visitors have struggled to play its unique bounces over the years, Lugo knew his way around after playing balls off the Maine Monster at Hadlock Field during his days with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. Now carving out a role on the bench for the Royals, Lugo got the chance to reflect on the start of his professional journey.
Lugo began his career as the Red Sox’s second-round selection in the 2019 MLB Draft, and he ultimately spent parts of five seasons in the organization. Lugo really found a groove in Portland to start 2024, when he slugged 11 home runs in 43 games with a 1.069 OPS.
“Great, great experience with them,” Lugo said of the Red Sox. “They had a great staff throughout the Minor Leagues, great coaches. I feel like that’s an organization that treats Minor League players well. They invest in the Minor League system and I had a great six years with them.”
Lugo developed under Chad Epperson, who was then the manager in Portland and made the jump to the big-league staff this season as Boston’s third-base coach for interim manager Chad Tracy. In his hot stretch that spring, Lugo credited his Portland skipper for that process.
“I think he was a players’ coach,” Lugo said. “Probably throughout my career in the Minor Leagues, he was my favorite manager. Same guy every day. He cares about the players, not just the baseball side aspect of it, but just the personal side aspect of it as well.
“I think we had a lot of conversations, not just about the game but about life in general. He helped me and made me feel comfortable. Made me feel like I had the talent to play in the big leagues in the future at that time. So I’m very thankful for him.”
Lugo made his MLB debut in 2025 with the Angels before jumping to his current big league stint with the Royals. As he crafts his own role in The Show, he’ll look across the field at former Portland teammate Roman Anthony, who has become a budding star at the top of the Red Sox’s lineup.
“It’s incredible,” Lugo said of Anthony. “I think he was like 19 or 20 years old back then. We knew he was super talented, he was going to get to the Major Leagues. But seeing him now, I feel like he’s one of the big faces for the Red Sox, one of the leaders, so it’s great to see him do his thing and to see all his success.”
“Significantly,” Lugo said of his development. “I think just meeting new people, having different perspectives of different organizations about baseball and how they operate games. I think it has grown me as a player. Also, you know, playing winter ball, playing [in the] World Baseball Classic, just different types of baseball and games. I felt like that has helped me to progress in my personal career.”
Lugo suited up for Team Puerto Rico in the WBC and his team advanced to the quarterfinals before a loss to Team Italy, which featured Kansas City teammate Vinnie Pasquantino. Lugo expanded on the value of a high-energy baseball environment unlike any other in the sport.
“When you’re playing for your country, it feels pretty intense,” Lugo said. “It’s different baseball, because this is a short tournament, it’s a little different. You gotta play a small game, you gotta play to win, you gotta do those small things. Whatever you can to win. So it’s a great experience. I feel like it has helped me a lot and if any player has the opportunity to do it in the future, I would do it.”
Lugo finds himself in a young clubhouse with a Royals team shaping out its future potential in 2027. With 38 games of big-league experience, he recognizes his role and the chance to find a real MLB home through his on-field production for Kansas City.
“Just keep working, keep controlling what you can control,” Lugo said. “That year in [Portland] in 2024, I started as a bench player that year and then I kept working. Unfortunately a couple of guys got hurt, then I started playing it every day. I did my thing, I got traded and then that just opened my door to be in the big leagues. So just stay working and control the things you control.”