Though it was a fairly sleepy week at Red Sox camp, several of the club’s stars enjoyed standout performances at the World Baseball Classic.
Who has made the most of their big moments? And while nobody has really stood out in a bad way recently, who hasn’t taken full advantage of their opportunities? Here’s a look at where things stand leading into the last full week of spring training.
Three up
Jarren Duran, OF
This has been a remarkable spring for Duran, who was the subject of rampant trade speculation but who is now playing like one of Boston’s best players.
While his team did not advance to the knockout rounds, Duran hit three home runs in four games for Mexico, going 5 for 15 (.333) with the three homers, a double, five RBI and two stolen bases. Overall, Duran has six home runs in nine games on the spring and he’s been crushing the ball whenever he steps up to the plate.
Will Duran carry this performance over into the regular season? Who knows, but as far as first impressions go it’s impossible to imagine him getting off to a better start.
Brayan Bello, RHP
Bello’s spring got off to a rocky start, and in his first two outings for the Red Sox he allowed nine earned runs in 3 1/3 innings on eight hits, two walks and only three strikeouts.
But since joining Team Dominican Republic, Bello has been lights out.
Following a solid showing in his club’s exhibition draw against the Tigers, Bello started Monday’s game against Israel and was dominant. The right-hander struck out seven while allowing one run over five innings, earning the win in his team’s 10-1 victory. The only hit Bello allowed was a solo home run, otherwise Bello retired every other batter he faced.
Masataka Yoshida, OF/DH
Yoshida’s future with the Red Sox remains uncertain given the club’s crowded outfield and designated hitter situations, but it’s becoming impossible to deny that Yoshida has started looking more like the player the club thought he’d be upon signing him to his five-year, $90 million deal back ahead of the 2023 season.
Following a standout showing in September and October, Yoshida has enjoyed a phenomenal run with Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Yoshida was Japan’s most prolific hitter during pool play, going 6 for 12 (.500) with two home runs, a double, four runs scored, six RBI, two walks and only one strikeout.
Now fully healthy, Yoshida has looked much more comfortable at the plate and his performance has picked up accordingly. It’s anyone’s guess how his role will evolve — or if he’ll even still be with the team come Opening Day — but Yoshida has undeniably been among the biggest risers on the Red Sox roster to date.
Three down
Ceddanne Rafaela, OF
Rafaela’s time in the World Baseball Classic wasn’t anything to write home about. The outfielder went 3 for 17 (.176) with three singles, no walks and one stolen base in four games, and his Netherlands team went 1-3 to finish fourth in Pool D.
Netherlands’ Ceddanne Rafaela drops his bat after hitting a single during the first inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Israel, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Rafaela had been playing well with the Red Sox before leaving for the World Baseball Classic, batting .385 with two home runs and two doubles in six games prior to the tournament. The club will hope he can get back into that kind of rhythm over the final stretch of camp.
Kyle Keller, RHP
Heading into Thursday, Keller’s chances of making the Red Sox looked pretty good. The way the roster was constructed the club almost certainly would have added at least one non-roster invitee to fill out the bullpen, and Keller appeared to have the upper hand among the remaining contenders.
But then two things happened that significantly hurt Keller’s odds.
One, Keller endured his worst outing of the spring, allowing two runs on two hits over his inning of work. Then, much more significantly, the Red Sox signed left-hander Danny Coulombe to a one-year deal. The veteran lefty will take one of the last spots and make it much harder for Keller or any of the other non-roster contenders to break through.
Tyler Samaniego, LHP
Samaniego already had a number of factors working against him in his quest to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. The rookie left-hander missed time early in camp with a back issue, and given that he has minor league options remaining, the club could have started him in Triple-A to accommodate other non-roster invitees who might have opt outs in their deal.
But now with Coulombe on board, Samaniego’s path to an Opening Day bullpen spot is all but closed.
Coulombe’s addition means the Red Sox now have seven locks for the bullpen, including two lefties with MLB experience behind closer Aroldis Chapman. That would’ve been enough to box out Samaniego on its own, but the Red Sox also now have only one spot left to accommodate Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson — who must spend all season on the active roster or be offered back to the San Francisco Giants — or one of the non-roster contenders who can’t be easily stashed in the minors either.
Samaniego will probably make his big league debut in Boston before long, but when the season begins in two weeks he will almost certainly start off in Worcester.