The Boston Red Sox’s season-ending loss to the Yankees got their offseason started prematurely, though this extra time to prepare for a crucial winter could prove beneficial. Like the front office is surely doing at this juncture, we figured we’d review the seasons of each player on the roster and grade their performance.
We’ve already taken a look at catchers here, and like the backstop grades, there won’t be too many surprises with the outfielders. Just about everyone involved the mix played well, and the starting quartet was one of the strongest units on the team this season. Let’s dive into each individual player’s 2025 performance.
Roman Anthony:Â A-
The young gun was as advertised for the Red Sox. He slashed .292/.396/.463 on the season while posting a 2.7 fWAR and a 140 wRC+. He was arguably the brightest spot in the outfield and was an absolute game-changer after his call-up. He suffered a few rookie errors early on, but his glove came around fairly quickly. We’re still waiting for him to find his power stroke at the plate, but it looked like it was starting to show up around the time of his oblique injury. What keeps him from a perfect A+ lies out of his control: the oblique injury ending his season early, and the fact that he didn’t get called up until June. Had he been on the roster since Opening Day, like he should have been, we’re likely looking at a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate.
Rafaela shuffled between center field and second base more than he should have this season, but he was still a plus defender. He posted a 22 Fielding Run Value in center field while accruing only five errors at the position. Offensively, he slashed .249/.295/.414, good for 3.8 fWAR and a 91 wRC+. What keeps him from an A grade, though, is the fact that he still swings at anything that sniffs the strike zone, and some things that don’t (42.2% chase rate, second percentile among qualified hitters). He had mental lapses in the playoffs that you’d expect him to be too mature for, as well. Still, his web gems are things of beauty, and he often makes difficult catches look routine. He needs to be in center field on a nightly basis for the remainder of his contract.
Jarren Duran: B
Duran had a mixed bag of a season. Offensively, he was sneakily good, batting .256/.332/.442 with 3.9 fWAR and a 111 wRC+. He was second on the team in stolen bases with 24 and was a clubhouse leader as the team made its postseason push. The offense seemed to follow his lead for the summer months, when he was hot everything fired on all cylinders. Defensively though, Duran was less than ideal. His seven errors on the season are probably a generous way of describing his glove in 2025. His dropped pop-fly in Game 2 of the Wild Card series may have cost the Red Sox a chance to win that game. His 2024 peak may not be on the menu anymore, but his nightly contributions make him a key contributor to this team.
Wilyer Abreu:Â B
Like Anthony above, Abreu’s grade could be higher if he didn’t miss significant time with a quad injury toward the end of the season. He was a shell of himself upon his return and didn’t make much of an impact at all. Before that injury, though, Abreu was his typical steady self. He slashed .247/.317/.469 with a 2.4 fWAR and a 110 wRC+, all while being platooned in right field. Even with the time missed due to injury, he was second on the team in home runs with 22. He had five errors on the season and will likely be in contention for another Gold Glove. He’s primed for a true breakout year in 2026 and could potentially shed his platoon status (.676 OPS vs. lefties this year) if he continues his upward trajectory.
Rob Refsnyder:Â B-
Refsnyder did his job well, for the most part. He was Abreu’s platoon partner and then took over right field duties once Abreu hit the injured list. He slashed .269/.354/.484 on the season with a 1.0 fWAR and a 128 wRC+. He dominated left-handed pitching as he was expected to and was, somewhat surprisingly, a vocal presence for the team. He had only one error on the season. Time will tell if Refsnyder is back with the club next year. He’s going to be a free agent and toyed with the idea of retirement as recently as last winter. Should he decide to hang them up, he will one day be a valuable coach to a franchise.