It’s been greater than per week and a half since pitchers and catchers reported to Crimson Sox camp, and whereas spring coaching video games received’t formally start till this weekend, a number of gamers have already stood out — for higher or worse.
Who has gotten off to a great begin? And who has fallen behind out of the gate? Right here’s a take a look at the place issues stand after the primary week of spring exercises.
Three up
Wilyer Abreu, RF
If there’s one participant on the roster who seems to be primed to take an enormous step ahead it’s Wilyer Abreu.
Having received back-to-back Gold Gloves at proper area in his first two seasons as an enormous league common, Abreu is anticipated to get on a regular basis at bats regardless of the membership’s crowded outfield image. Supervisor Alex Cora has incessantly expressed his want for Abreu to get common alternatives in opposition to left-handed pitching, so if he can keep wholesome, Abreu ought to be nicely positioned to exceed his profession highs of 132 video games and 447 plate appearances.
Abreu can be set to play for Workforce Venezuela within the World Baseball Basic, a notable achievement provided that Abreu had but to make his MLB debut over the past match in 2023.
Aroldis Chapman, LHP
Nobody was stunned when Aroldis Chapman confirmed up at Crimson Sox camp final spring throwing gasoline, however what finally allowed him to take pleasure in the most effective seasons of his profession was his vastly improved command.
It’s nonetheless early, however to date it seems Chapman has carried over those gains into the brand new season.
“You’ll be able to see proper now it wasn’t a fluke,” Cora informed reporters in Fort Myers on Sunday. “Two bullpens he’s 20 out of 23 within the strike zone, 25 out of 30 within the strike zone.”
Even heading into his age-38 season, Chapman continues to be the most effective relievers in baseball. If the Crimson Sox hope to appreciate their championship ambitions, they’re going to want him to remain that method.
Triston Casas, 1B/DH
Triston Casas hasn’t reached some extent the place he’s been cleared to participate in full squad exercises, however the Crimson Sox slugger has nonetheless made outstanding progress in his restoration from the ruptured patellar tendon that minimize his season brief final Might.
Cora stated on Monday that they’ve to ensure his workload is constant along with his rehab, however that he’s been shifting nicely.
“I noticed him leaping for some throws yesterday, shifting to his proper, to his left, it’s spectacular,” Cora stated. “He decided to remain right here within the offseason and the medical staff, the trainers and the energy and conditioning coaches, they did a tremendous job with him. I’m very blissful for him.”
Three down
Romy Gonzalez, INF
This has been a tough spring for Romy Gonzalez, who suffered a shoulder damage towards the tip of final season that has lingered all through the whole offseason. Gonzalez suffered a setback in January that compelled him to restart his development, and in line with Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, he acquired a PRP injection that up to now hasn’t helped him get again on the sphere.
As of this writing, Gonzalez nonetheless hasn’t resumed baseball actions and has fallen behind because the membership begins ramping up for Opening Day. It’s wanting more and more probably Gonzalez will begin the season on the 15-day injured checklist, offering a gap for guys like Andruw Monasterio, Nate Eaton and Nick Sogard, all of whom are within the combine for one of many final bench spots.
Kutter Crawford, RHP
Coming off a whole season misplaced to damage, Kutter Crawford couldn’t afford any extra setbacks main into what ought to be a fiercely contested battle for the final beginning rotation spot. However then Crawford got here down with the flu and misplaced round 10 kilos final month, which value him per week of motion and put him behind the opposite contenders.
Crawford hasn’t skilled any bother along with his knee or wrist, which had been the problems that sidelined him all through 2025, however he’ll have much less room for error as soon as Grapefruit League play begins.
“It’s nonetheless early,” Cora stated on Monday of Crawford. “You by no means know what might occur in per week.”
Masataka Yoshida, DH
Masataka Yoshida is lastly wholesome after being restricted as a result of damage all through the previous two seasons, however his future with the Crimson Sox remains in doubt.
The 32-year-old, who will as soon as once more swimsuit up for Workforce Japan within the World Baseball Basic later this spring, stays a clumsy roster match main into the brand new season. The Crimson Sox have 4 different starting-caliber outfielders who’re superior defensive gamers and who will rotate by way of the designated hitter spot, and DH at bats might change into extra aggressive as soon as Casas ultimately works his method again from damage.
Because the Crimson Sox came upon final 12 months, all it might take is one or two accidents to show the membership’s outfield surplus right into a deficit, so the staff will almost definitely let issues play out this spring. But when the membership ultimately has to decide, don’t be stunned if Yoshida follows right-hander Jordan Hicks out the door in one other wage dump, or if the membership releases him outright, consuming the remaining two years and $37.2 million on his deal within the course of.
