Red Sox Outfielder Struggled To Feel ‘Comfortable’ With Netflix Documentary
The Boston Red Sox had plenty of adjustments to make throughout the 2024 season, whether it was due to the ever-revolving injured list door or the costly second-half bullpen woes amid a postseason race. But none were as large as getting accustomed to being followed by a Netflix camera crew from Opening Day to Game 162.
Netflix captured the season-long journey of the Red Sox, documenting the team for a project to be released on its streaming platform in 2025. However, entering (almost) every game shadowed by an extra few cameras isn’t the norm for a big-league club, especially when the clubhouse is traditionally filled with reporters and credentialed camera operators already. For Boston outfielder Tyler O’Neill, the experience wasn’t the fondest when looking back on what became the franchise’s third straight season coming up short of the playoffs.
“There’s been a lot of people, a lot of cameras in places there usually aren’t,” O’Neill said, per The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey. “Even after games, just trying to like, wind down and still having to be subject to the camera’s eye was something to get used to, for sure. So it’s been a long year in that regard, not like keeping a guard up, but you always have to have some kind of layer hanging around there.”
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As Netflix entered Fenway Park’s gates for the first time, O’Neill settled into debuting with the organization after arriving via an offseason trade from the St. Louis Cardinals. Acquired to provide the lineup with some much-needed right-handed power, O’Neill led the Red Sox with 31 home runs while slashing .241/.336/.511 with 61 RBIs across 113 appearances. O’Neill proved to be everything Boston needed, even though the club fell short of postseason contention and the seven-year veteran is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Looking back, the 81-81 season certainly earned itself a rollercoaster title. The highs and lows, trade deadline anticipation and nail-biting race until the very end kept Boston in an engaging and competitive American League wild-card hunt. And although O’Neill’s future with the Red Sox, for now, is uncertain, it’s likely the two-time Gold Glove Award winner would be thrilled to return without Netflix representatives in attendance.
“Just having the camera right by (Alex Cora) during the whole game, especially the big important games, maybe (you’re) not 100 percent comfortable, sharing some stuff,” O’Neill added, per McCaffrey. “So it’s definitely an adjustment. And there were times where it’s been uncomfortable, of course. But that’s what the Red Sox wanted initially and the players from last year. So it is what it is.”