As the Grapefruit League schedule comes to a close and Opening Day beckons, it’s time to take stock of Red Sox spring training one last time.
The World Baseball Classic made that more difficult. Over a dozen Red Sox players, including all four star outfielders, were training for and competing in the classic for anywhere from one to three weeks this month. The WBC final featured five Red Sox players between first-time champion Venezuela (Wilyer Abreu, Willson Contreras, Ranger Suárez) and runner-up USA (Roman Anthony, Garrett Whitlock).
While the triennial tournament was underway, however, some new faces and non-roster invitees had a chance to shine in Red Sox camp.
Three up
Caleb Durbin, 3B
It’s only been five weeks since Caleb Durbin arrived via trade from the Milwaukee Brewers, but he’s done more than enough to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Even after an 0 for 3 performance on Friday, Boston’s new starting third baseman is batting .359 with a .995 OPS in 15 preseason games, and leading the club with 11 runs scored and five doubles.
Durbin is coming off a third-place finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Watching him in camp, it’s hard to believe the Brewers were willing to part with him.
Roman Anthony, OF
Roman Anthony’s teammates envy his plate discipline and in his first game back from the World Baseball Classic on Friday, he immediately reminded them why.
Boston’s 21-year-old leadoff hitter had three plate appearances against Rays starter Shane McClanahan, and reached base each time, via hit-by-pitch, single and walk. It was only Anthony’s seventh Grapefruit League game, but he’s hitting .300 and getting on base at a .391 clip.
Most importantly, Anthony played all the way to the WBC championship game and returned to camp healthy.
Tayron Guerrero, RHP
Last but not least, dark-horse bullpen candidate Tayron Guerrero, who’s made more appearances than any other Red Sox pitcher this preseason, and proved himself the ultimate escape artist.
Through nine games, tied with Kyle Keller for the team lead, Guerrero is 4 for 4 in save opportunities and owns a 0.96 ERA with one earned run and one unearned on 10 hits, four walks and eight strikeouts.
Tayron Guerrero of the Boston Red Sox is having a strong training camp. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
As the numbers indicate, the 35-year-old righty, who debuted with the 2016 San Diego Padres and last pitched in the majors with the 2018-19 Miami Marlins, has a way of getting himself in trouble.
What’s impressive is that he’s also found his way out of it nearly every time. He also hasn’t issued a walk in his last three games.
The Red Sox are still deciding who will round out the Opening Day bullpen, and multiple spots are up for grabs. Guerrero has made a solid case.
Three down
Masataka Yoshida, DH
Masataka Yoshida remains hitless this spring, though Friday was only his fourth game. He’s drawn two walks, struck out twice and stolen a base in them.
Spring training games don’t count for anything, but often when a player is locked in this late in camp, they’re able to ride that confidence and momentum into Opening Day.
But if Yoshida isn’t feeling particularly confident, it would be understandable. For several reasons, many not his fault, he’s become something of a square peg in a round hole; between his shoulder injury and surgery in 2024, the Rafael Devers designated-hitter situation last spring, and the rapid rise of star outfielders Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela, Yoshida has been shunted from one role to another too many times to count over the last two years.
Yoshida is entering the fourth season of his five-year Red Sox contract. How it plays out is anyone’s guess.
Aroldis Chapman, LHP
At 37 years old, veteran closer Aroldis Chapman put together one of, if not the best season of his 16-year career in 2025. In 67 games he pitched to a career-best 1.17 ERA and struck out 85 batters over 61 1/3 innings.
Which is why it feels so foreign to watch him give anything up in camp. After four scoreless appearances, Chapman gave up multiple hits and an earned run apiece in back-to-back outings this week.
No need to hit the panic button just yet, though. Even a slightly less-lockdown version of Chapman is still more formidable and effective than nearly every other closer in the game.
Braiden Ward, OF
Braiden Ward may have set a new spring training stolen-base record (since MLB officially began tracking the stats in 2006) but that won’t earn him a spot on the Opening Day roster.
The big-league outfield is full of talented speedsters. Besides, Ward split last season between the Colorado Rockies’ Double-A and Triple-A teams. His time will come.
For now, he’s made a Red Sox preseason that was missing a significant chunk of its big-league stars for weeks immensely entertaining.