(Honorable mentions go to southpaw starter Ranger Suarez and veteran closer Aroldis Chapman, whose strong first halves earned them All-Star honors, and who were only left off this list to include more unexpected players.)<\/p>\n
Winners
\nWillson Contreras, 1B<\/p>\n
Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals this past winter, Contreras gave the Red Sox everything they could have hoped for and more. The All-Star first baseman is in the midst of a career year with 20 home runs, 61 RBI and a .921 OPS. The fiery veteran also brings a badly-needed edge<\/a> to the Red Sox clubhouse. It\u2019s difficult to imagine where they would be right now without him.<\/p>\n Sonny Gray, SP<\/p>\n Much like Contreras, Gray came over to Boston from St. Louis in an offseason trade and immediately exceeded expectations. It\u2019s shocking that the 36-year-old righty isn\u2019t an All-Star, given that he has been one of the best starting pitchers in the American League, boasting an 11-1 record with a 2.54 ERA over 17 starts and 95 2\/3 innings. The 14-year veteran also posted eight consecutive quality starts, helping the Red Sox rotation thrive despite left-hander Garrett Crochet\u2019s extended absence.<\/p>\n Caleb Durbin, 3B<\/p>\n Not long ago Durbin would have seemed like a lock for the \u201closer\u201d section, but since mid-June the third baseman has completely turned things around<\/a>. After batting .190 with a .557 OPS as late in the season as June 16, Durbin has since batted .325 with a 1.013 OPS over the past month, and even throughout his struggles he\u2019s graded as one of the best defensive third baseman in MLB. Overall, his 2.2 Wins Above Replacement rank fifth on the team.<\/p>\n Ceddanne Rafaela, CF<\/p>\n Rafaela enters the break as a first-time All-Star, and it\u2019s not hard to see why. The Red Sox centerfielder slashed .281\/.328\/.433, all career bests, with a team-leading 22 doubles. Rafaela looks like a lock for his second consecutive Gold Glove Award<\/a>, too, as he ranks in the 99th MLB percentile in both Fielding Run Value and Outs Above Average, and leads all AL centerfielders with 15 Defensive Runs Saved (T-2 in MLB). Rafaela is only outranked on the Red Sox roster by right fielder Wilyer Abreu, whose 17 DRS are tied with Dodgers\u2019 Andy Pages for most among all major league outfielders.<\/p>\n Payton Tolle, SP<\/p>\n Tolle didn\u2019t make the crowded Opening Day roster, but he\u2019s been integral to the rotation\u2019s success ever since the Red Sox called him up in late April, posting a 3.11 ERA over 15 starts, with 87 strikeouts in 84 innings. Tolle was particularly dominant in two starts against the Yankees, holding the Bronx batters to a 0.93 batting average and one (earned) run and with 18 strikeouts across 13 innings. The rookie southpaw\u2019s effervescent, larger-than-life personality<\/a> also provided a struggling, discontented Red Sox with an immediate and much-needed infusion of joy and humor.<\/p>\n Tyron Guerrero, RP<\/p>\n Guerrero spent six seasons out of the majors before getting called back up by the Red Sox<\/a> in late May. And talk about making up for lost time. The towering flamethrower pitched to a 2.33 ERA over 19 relief appearances in the first half, with 23 strikeouts and two walks through 19 1\/3 innings. This includes just one earned run (a solo homer), one walk and 16 strikeouts over his last 16 games.<\/p>\n Bello was a first-half winner out of the bullpen. But the longest-tenured member of the rotation was as big a bust as can be when he started games, and that puts him in the loser column. Bello pitched to a 0.91 ERA over five bulk-relief appearances (29 2\/3 innings), compared to a 10.35 ERA over eight starts (35 2\/3 innings). First innings were particularly cataclysmic for Bello: a 16.88 ERA and 15 runs on 19 hits, six walks and eight strikeouts. The Red Sox optioned him to Triple-A after he imploded in his June 4 start<\/a>, and didn\u2019t recall him until this past Sunday when they needed someone for long relief.<\/p>\n Trevor Story SS<\/p>\n Story\u2019s 2025 comeback season felt like a fever dream when he began the 2026 campaign hitting .206 with a .547 OPS in 41 games, before going on the injured list and undergoing sports hernia surgery in May<\/a>. There are also concerns about whether he should continue playing shortstop, where he ranks in the 19th percentile in OAA and 20th in Arm Strength, or shift over to second.<\/p>\n Roman Anthony OF<\/p>\n![\"Boston](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26119737600682.jpg\")
Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello reacts after loading the bases in the third inning of a baseball game against Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto earlier this season. (Chris Young\/The Canadian Press via AP)
\nLosers
\nBrayan Bello SP\/RP<\/p>\n