Morning Sports Update

Christian Barmore ranked as having ‘breakout’ potential ahead of the 2022 season

"If Barmore improves, he will be a problem that offenses have to game-plan around very shortly."

Christian Barmore
Christian Barmore during the 2021 season. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

By Hayden Bird

The Red Sox lost to the Yankees 13-2 on Sunday. The bad news was compounded by Chris Sale leaving the game in the first inning after suffering a fracture in his pinky finger following being struck by a line drive from New York outfielder Aaron Hicks. Sale, having only just returned from injury, is set to see a medical specialist.

Also on Sunday, the Red Sox selected three high school players in the first two rounds of the MLB Draft. In the first round, Boston picked shortstop Mikey Romero.

And at the British Open, 28-year-old Australian Cameron Smith shot a final-round 64 to win his first career major.

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With All-Star festivities underway, the 2022 home run derby begins this evening at 8 p.m. The All-Star Game itself will be played on Tuesday, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Christian Barmore heading into his second season: Though quarterback Mac Jones draws much of the attention among Patriots heading into their second NFL seasons, one player on the defensive side is garnering potentially higher expectations.

Christian Barmore, 22, was New England’s second-round pick in 2021. As a rookie, he not only made an impact on the field, but impressed Bill Belichick with his work ethic and commitment to improving.

And according to a recent ranking of possible “breakout candidates” among second-year NFL players, Barmore has star potential.

Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus placed Barmore second on the list, behind only Jaguars quarterback (and 2021 first overall pick) Trevor Lawrence. Renner paid particular attention to Barmore’s rookie impact, noting how difficult it is for interior lineman to make quick contributions.

“Even the greatest defensive tackle in modern football history, Aaron Donald, managed a meager 44 pressures as a rookie,” Renner wrote. “He has averaged double that in his seven seasons since.”

“So, when a second-rounder like Barmore racks up 48 pressures for the Patriots as a rookie, the football world should take note,” Renner continued. “Even scarier, we already saw him look like a different player in the second half of last season. He went from a 63.5 pass-rushing grade in the first eight weeks of the season to an 82.6 pass-rushing grade across the final nine. The latter figure was good enough for fifth best among defensive tackles over that span.”

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Barmore finished the year with just 1.5 sacks, but as Renner pointed out, other (more detailed) metrics illustrated his actual impact.

“If Barmore improves, he will be a problem that offenses have to game-plan around very shortly,” Renner concluded.

Patriots players report to training camp July 26.

Trivia: Who was the last Patriots defensive tackle to make the Pro Bowl?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He won Super Bowls in the first and last seasons of his New England career.

More from Boston.com:

Some baseball lineage in the 2022 draft:

A photo from Red Sox first-round pick Mikey Romero’s past:

On this day: In 1998, the Red Sox hit four home runs in with two outs in the fourth inning. Donnie Sadley, Darren Lewis, Nomar Garciaparra, and Mo Vaughn all went deep. The seven-run inning led to a 9-4 win over the Tigers.

Red Sox 1998 Boston Globe

Daily highlight: Tim Parker saved a sure goal against the Houston Dynamo with a goal-line clearance in a 2-1 win on Sunday.

Trivia answer: Vince Wilfork

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