Boston Red Sox
Roman Anthony is just scratching the surface and could blossom into one of the faces of the sport.
Roman Anthony, one of baseball’s brightest young stars, is poised to take his game to the next level. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
March 5, 2026 | 6:34 AM
5 minutes to read
Following three years of mediocrity, the Red Sox turned a corner last year and gave fans a reason to believe for the first time since 2021.
While a Wild Card loss to the Yankees brought scowls back to faces, it became clear that the organization had made tangible strides and was on the cusp of returning to legitimate contention.
This offseason was about tinkering and ensuring the pieces fit together around the stars. Though they didn’t land the true superstar many coveted, the Sox acquired plenty of valuable players who should mesh well with a budding young core and veteran ace Garrett Crochet.
Now, expectations are higher once again – the way they used to be and always should be in Boston – and this year’s team appears poised to take the next step and potentially make a deep postseason run.
Here are three reasons for optimism and three causes for concern heading into the season:
There’s no reason to complicate this one. Roman Anthony is already one of the best young stars in baseball, and he has an excellent chance to emerge as one of the faces of the sport in the years to come.
Anthony hit .292 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 71 games last year and showed discipline at the plate beyond his years. With that experience to lean on, and the World Baseball Classic as a springboard, the 21-year-old Anthony is ready to unlock a new level.
Ceddanne Rafaela (25), meanwhile, hit 16 home runs and led the team in Wins Above Replacement (4.8) with spectacular range in center field. Wilyer Abreu (26) contributed 22 homers and won a Gold Glove once again alongside Rafaela.
On the mound, Brayan Bello (26) is coming off a career year in which he lowered his ERA to 3.35 and only walked 59 in 166.2 innings.
Connelly Early (23) posted a 2.23 ERA last year, Payton Tolle (23) showed potential in a small sample size, and Kyson Witherspoon (21) has the right tools as well. Regardless of where they start the season, all three are players to keep an eye on moving forward.
On the flip side, some of the organization’s talented young players are at a crossroads as they try to cement themselves as consistent Major League staples.
Former No. 4 overall pick Marcelo Mayer (age 23) hit .228 in 44 games and struck out 41 times in 127 at-bats as a rookie last year. Now, he’s returning from wrist surgery last August, hoping to make the roster and earn his spot as a regular at second or third base.
Kristian Campbell (23) finds himself in a somewhat similar situation after hitting .223 last year with a WAR of minus-1. It’s a pivotal moment in his career, with opportunity there, and it’s up to him to capitalize.
Triston Casas (26), who played in just 29 games last year and hit .182 with three homers, is still recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.
There’s no need to overanalyze this one, either. The Red Sox have one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in Crochet, who will have a legitimate chance to win the Cy Young Award this year after placing second last season. As long as he’s in the rotation, they have a shot in any playoff series.
Newcomers Ranger Suárez (12-8, 3.20 ERA last year), Sonny Gray (14-8. 4.28 ERA last year) and Johan Oviedo (2-1, 3.57 ERA last year) are frontrunners to round out the rotation alongside Crochet and Bello.
Suárez (30) and Gray (36) have extensive Major League experience and are proven commodities. Oviedo is a bit younger (28), but pitched 32 games for the Pirates in 2023 and uses his 6-foot-6-inch, 275-pound frame to overpower opponents.
Versatile shortstop Trevor Story is back for more after revitalizing his career last season (.253, 25 homers, 96 RBIs, 31 steals). Jarren Duran had a decent 2025 season but is fully capable of returning to 2024 form after taking a slight dip by his lofty standards last year.
Returners Masataka Yoshida, Carlos Narváez, Romy Gonzalez (pending health) and Nate Eaton, among others, are back for more. Newcomers Willson Contreras, Caleb Durbin, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Andruw Monasterio fortified the infield depth, and dominant force Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock anchor the bullpen.
Much like Justin Turner did before him, Alex Bregman made everyone around him better and thrived as a stabilizing veteran presence on and off the field.
Bregman spent just one year in Boston, but it felt like longer, as he quickly ingratiated himself with a fan base that used to despise him. Teammates raved about his ability to help with whatever advice they had, and his consistency was perhaps his greatest superpower.
Alex Bregman on the Team USA drubbing of the Giants today: “I feel like there’s a certain excitement that you could feel the minute that you walk into the clubhouse. The focus level is at an all time high.”
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 3, 2026
Story, who was already a trusted voice in the clubhouse, will likely take on even more of a leadership role this season. Contreras and Durbin have an opportunity to work in tandem and help fill that void as well. Durbin, who stands at 5 feet 6 inches, could blossom into a fan favorite.
It may take some time, and they may feel Bregman’s absence initially, but they have the personnel to adapt and move forward.
For those craving more baseball, the World Baseball Classic will serve as a perfect accompaniment to spring training this season.
Boston has 13 Major League players competing the event: Abreu (Venezuela), Anthony (USA), Bello (Dominican Republic), Tsung-Che Cheng (Chinese Taipei), Contreras (Venezuela), Duran (Mexico), Eaton (Great Britain), Jovani Morán (Puerto Rico), Rafaela (Netherlands), Suárez (Venezuela), Greg Weissert (Italy), Whitlock (USA), and Yoshida (Japan).
There are clear benefits, as players like Contreras, Abreu, and Suárez, along with Anthony and Whitlock, will get to bond and represent their country. It’s a chance for Anthony, who made a splash Tuesday with an impressive home run in an exhibition game, to turn himself into even more of a household name.
It also gives those players an opportunity to head into the season with momentum and many high-pressure reps behind them.
While the WBC has some clear perks, it isn’t all rosy for MLB teams.
For starters, managers have to mix and match in spring training and turn to players who may not otherwise see any action. It’s possible some could impress so much that they earn a roster spot, but it isn’t likely.
Those competing in the event will also end up playing a lot of high-level baseball, which could be taxing and potentially lead to some wear and tear on the body. There’s always the risk of a serious injury, which then inevitably yields the somewhat silly yet somewhat pertinent question of, “Why did he play in the WBC?”
While the Red Sox will have plenty of time to build chemistry, the time without their full team now could make the process a bit slower than it otherwise would be.
Trevor Hass is a sports producer for Boston.com, where he writes and edits stories about Boston’s professional teams, among other tasks.
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