The ultimate infield bat? Up within the air. Free brokers? Accessible. A commerce for CJ Abrams? Doable. Possibly? The Washington Nationals did simply commerce Mackenzie Gore so it’s doable they burn issues fully to the bottom. Gore, nonetheless, did value the Texas Rangers a king’s ransom of prospects.
We’re, as of at the moment, January 29, 2026, 55 days away from Opening Day. It’s a little early for countdowns, however on this bizarre interval between constructing the staff and heading to Spring Coaching, let’s go forward and do one anyway, looking on the Purple Sox gamers who’ve worn quantity 55.
55 isn’t the most well-liked uniform quantity but in addition isn’t the least. Simply 9 gamers for Boston have donned it versus 61 gamers for quantity 28, essentially the most worn quantity.
Let’s keep in mind some guys.
You don’t want a lot of a reminder about Martin. The 6’8” righty reliever wore 55 throughout his two-year stint in Boston in 2023-2024. An actual ace of a signing, Martin put up one of the best season of his profession in 2023. Sadly, that staff wasn’t in a spot to benefit from a shutdown reliever having a profession yr.
Who can overlook Matt Strahm and his very lengthy hair in 2022? Sadly this was his worst full season within the majors, though a 3.83 ERA / 3.72 FIP throughout 44.2 innings isn’t horrible both. He was one and performed, signed as a free agent. He’s been a helpful a part of the Phillies bullpen during the last three seasons however discovered himself shipped off to Kansas Metropolis in December.
When he first got here up in 2014, Vázquez wore 55. When he returned for good from 2016-2022 the World Collection hero took up quantity 7, at the moment worn by Masataka Yoshida however beforehand worn by luminaries like Trot Nixon and J.D. Drew.
Do you keep in mind Chris Capuano’s Purple Sox profession? I had forgotten too. He truly shared 55 in 2014 with Vázquez. The lefty appeared in 28 video games out of the bullpen and over 31.2 innings allowed 15 runs. He was launched on July 1 that yr, signed by the Colorado Rockies on the 4th, after which bought by the Yankees on the twenty fourth earlier than ever pitching for the Rockies. He had some memorable seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers however not for John Farrell.
We’re all the best way again to 2010-2012 now for Ryan Kalish and if you happen to don’t keep in mind the hype, it was rather a lot. Kalish was the primary participant within the farm system in line with SoxPropsects again in 2011. In 2010 he was behind doable two-way participant Casey Kelly and Josh Reddick/Lars Anderson, relying on if you happen to regarded in April or June. His .710 OPS over 53 video games as a 22-year-old would turn into the excessive water mark of his profession. After being launched he would latch on to the Theo Epstein Cubs and hit .286/.444/.286 in 7 video games in 2016 however presumably gather a World Collection ring. He wasn’t launched till December 2013 however didn’t seem within the majors for the Purple Sox, shedding out on a second World Collection championship. That will have actually made him a trivia reply.
The speedster wore 23 in his 2009 Purple Sox callup and 55 for his subsequent and remaining main league motion in 2011. He might steal 20 bases a yr (for the Rays and Royals – he stole 2 in 24 video games for the Purple Sox) however couldn’t hit the ball with energy, proudly owning a .303 profession slugging proportion.
Bailey was drafted by the then-Florida Marlins in 1997 earlier than being bought by the Montreal Expos in 2002, the place he would stay for a yr. Upon tasting free company he signed with the Purple Sox in November 2003. He would then spend three extra years within the minors. A decade after he was drafted, and 961 minor league video games later, Jeff Bailey would make his main league debut on July 6, 2007. He’d get two extra video games that season, 27 in 2008, and 26 in 2009. He wore 55 for all of them.
Former pitcher and present NESN analyst Lenny DiNardo wore 55 from 2004-2006. Claimed off waivers by the Oakland A’s from the Purple Sox in February 2007, he cleared the best way for 55 to open up for Jeff Bailey.
A one-and-done Purple Sox reliever in 2003 who by no means lived as much as the work he did with the Yankees. His remaining look for Boston was Sport 3 of the 2004 ALCS.
Boston was the final cease of his five-year profession and the righty bullpen arm appeared in 10 video games.
Croushore tossed 4.2 innings for the Purple Sox in 2000. He was traded by the Rockies to Boston (with others) for Jeff Frye, Brian Rose, and John Wasdin. These are certain some throwbacks.
Beneath is an image of John Wasdin as a result of Getty didn’t have one among Croushore as a Purple Sox participant.
8.0 innings in Boston in 1998. Signed as a free agent and launched.
In 1998, Reyes wore 55 for the Padres and Purple Sox however by no means wore the quantity in another yr or on another staff.
Suppan would put on 55 from 1995-1997 however would put on 35 for his 2003 return to Boston.
Suppan would later lose Sport 3 of the 2004 World Collection to the Purple Sox, making a memorable base-running blunder.
One other lefty pitcher for the record, he’d take 55 from 1990-1994.
Plantier would solely spend 14 video games within the majors in 1990 and when Hesketh was acquired he was within the majors and took 55 over. Plantier would put on 7 when he got here again and 29 in 1991-1992.
Presumably a fan of the quantity 5, Kutcher would put on 55 in 1988 earlier than altering to five for 1989 and 1990. Though earlier than he was in Boston he wore 9 and 19 with the San Fransisco Giants.
One-and-done for each the Purple Sox and his main league profession, Tarver, listed as a centerfielder and pinch runner, wore 55 for all of his 13 video games.
The primary Purple Sox participant to put on 55, Veale did so from 1972-1974, the ultimate three seasons of his profession. Over 10 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier than that he wore 39. In Boston, 39 was taken by Mike Garmen when he arrived after which Tim Blackwell after Veale had settled into 55.
