Boston’s Rob Refsnyder has become a fixture for the Red Sox, stepping up at the plate and able to play all three outfield positions. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

Before a recent game, Red Sox Manager Alex Cora was answering a question from an out-of-town reporter seeking input on the team.

As Cora broke down the current roster, Cora almost casually made an observation about outfielder Rob Refsnyder.

“Rob, he’s one of our best players,” said Cora.

That characterization didn’t get challenged by anyone in attendance, and neither did the remark seem off the mark. Such an analysis would have been pretty far-fetched not long ago.

Rob Refsnyder? You mean the 33-year-old journeyman now with his sixth organization? Rob Refsnyder, who’s never played as many as 90 games in a season? Rob Refsnyder who hit .248 last year?

That Rob Refsnyder?

Indeed, on the face of it, Refsnyder would not seem to fit the criteria of best player on any team. Solid … versatile … valuable … might all be used to fairly describe him.

But “one of our best” isn’t much of a stretch, if it’s a stretch at all. Refsnyder does a lot of little things right – from base running to getting on base to executing proper fundamentals. It doesn’t hurt that he’s slashing .325/.391/.480.

Refsnyder entered play Friday with the second-highest OPS on the team, with his .871 OPS second only to Rafael Devers. Not long ago typecast as a platoon player, Refsnyder has shown this season  an ability to hit both lefties and righties equally well.

Against lefties, he has an .860 OPS; against righties, he had an .878 OPS. Defensively, Refsnyder is judged by defensive runs saved (DRS) as basically neutral, which seems like an underwhelming assessment of his play. But as recently as last week at Guaranteed Rate Field, Refsnyder, stepping in for the injured Tyler O’Neill, made two spectacular diving plays in right field. He’s capable of playing all three outfield spots.

There are also the intangibles. Refsnyder is the team’s oldest position player, and the fourth-oldest player on the roster, and has emerged as a clubhouse leader and one comfortable in that role.

From versatility to production to off-field contributions, Refsnyder has emerged as a key performer. Part of his success this year is due to improved health. Last year, Refsnyder dealt with a right elbow issue that limited him at the plate.

“As much as I don’t like making excuses, I feel a lot healthier this year,” he said. “My right elbow wasn’t letting me do a lot of things that I would like to do and my mechanics got really, really bad. I wasn’t staying behind righties well.”

Regarded as a largely a platoon player for much of his career, Refsnyder emerged in 2022 as someone who could hit righties, too, (.792 OPS). This year finds him duplicating, if not exceeding, that season.

Ironically, a spring training injury which sidelined him for Opening Day may have been a positive development. Refsnyder broke his toe in March, but during his rehab – in both Fort Myers and a four-game assignment with Worcester – Refsnyder got the opportunity to see more right-handed pitching than he otherwise would have.

Boston’s Rob Refsnyder is hitting well enough to earn at-bats against both left-handed and right-handed pitchers Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

“I started building a little confidence down there,” said Refsnyder. “Then, obviously when you rehab at Triple A, you face righties, too. And then we had some injuries (in Boston) and that allowed me to play a little bit against righties. So yeah, honestly, getting hurt sucked but I had all the time in the world to work on my game and my hitting and things like that and experiment a little. At the big league level, you don’t want to experiment when you’re trying to compete and win games.

“But when you’re a little bit older and you have some of those opportunities, it’s nice to work in those low-pressure situations. Looking back, (getting hurt) helped a lot. It kind of gave me a foundation to grow on for this year.”

In part due to injuries to Trevor Story, Triston Casas and Tyler O’Neill, Cora has been juggling different lineup combinations. Many of them have had Refsnyder hitting second (11 times) or third (17). Holding such a prominent spot in the Boston batting order is not something Refsnyder anticipated.

“I don’t take it for granted,” said Refsnyder. “My first experience in the big leagues was pinch-hitting or batting eighth or ninth. So I don’t take (these opportunities) for granted. I feel very fortunate.”

Refsnyder considered himself a late-bloomer who had to wait until he was 30 to be rewarded with some contractual security – a one-year extension for this year at $1.85 million with a $2 million club option for 2025 – and an assured place on a major league roster. Until then, he dealt with the usual indignities of a depth player – he experienced being optioned to the minor leagues, being platooned, released, and claimed on waivers.

“Development-wise, you’re trying to figure it out on the go,” he said. “You’re trying to survive, basically. My career path is why I’m a big believer in player development. If you surround yourself with really good coaches and guys who know what they’re talking about, you can get better – even at the major league level.

“I was fortunate enough to have some luck on my side. Signing minor league deals, you have to perform. Some luck went my way and I was able to keep afloat at the Triple A level while I was learning. And then, the alternate site (during the pandemic season of 2020) was also a blessing because you’re facing really good players but you have the luxury of trying a stance, or try this adjustment, and in real time see if they work. Looking back, it’s been a perfect storm of a lot of luck and running across some really good people.”