Red Sox Opening Day Roster

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 3/25/2026

Photo by Gerald Herbert/ Associated Press

Red Sox Projected Starting Lineup

1. Roman Anthony LF

2. Trevor Story SS

3. Jarren Duran DH

4. Wilson Contreras 1B

5. Wilyer Abreu RF

6. Caleb Durbin 3B

7. Marcelo Mayer 2B

8. Carlos Narvaez C

9. Ceddane Rafaela CF

Projected Platoon

Masataka Yoshida OF

Connor Wong C

Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS

Andruw Monasterio 2B

New Additions

The Sox added a few hitters and a few pitchers this offseason, which has led to only two changes in their lineup: Contreras and Durbin.

The former Cardinal, Wilson Contreras, is a veteran and 20-home-run, .260 hitter who will more or less only be used until Tristan Casas is ready to return. A solid fielder and consistent on-base threat (.361 OBP average over the last 3 years), Contreras should bring a level of consistency to the position the Sox have not seen since Mitch Moreland from 2017-2019.

Caleb Durbin is the complete opposite, a slick bat and solid glove on the other side of the infield and only 26 years old. Coming in 3rd in the 2025 Rookie of the Year voting in Milwaukee, Durbin was brought in along with other players of less note for Kyle Harrison and David Hamilton this offseason in a move the Red Sox likely pulled the trigger on as Kristian Campbell's progression continues to be slower than anticipated.

Lineup Changes

The big focal point for the 2026 season will be the newest star in Boston, Roman Anthony, expected to be batting leadoff. Taking Duran's place in the lineup, who will now move to the 3rd spot, Anthony showed his unreal potential from the plate last season in 71 games after being called up as the MLB's #1 prospect. His ability to get on base is already elite, and with raw athleticism, he could look for extra bags or stolen bases right from the rip.

Jarren Duran moving to the 3rd spot in the order is the other notable change this season, even though I assume this will be a rotating door, especially once the season gets going and some hitters separate themselves from others. Duran's 2025 saw an increase in Hard Hit % and Fly Ball %, which shows promise for the 3rd hitter. While 2025 was a slightly down year from his 2024, Duran has proved to be not only a leader on the field but also in the clubhouse, and I assume that's where this lineup promotion has really come from.

Platoon Expectations

Photo by Stuart Cahill/ Boston Herald

Gone are Rob Refsnyder and David Hamilton from last season, and in are Kiner-Falefa and Monasterio on the Red Sox bench.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa is a career utility player at 2B/SS/3B and a decent glove in the field, but he just turned 30 and hasn't been a great bat for a few years. His baserunning has lost a step or two as well, so he'll primarily be used in defensive situations.

Andruw Monasterio came over from Milwaukee in the Durbin trade and should be the first man up in the platoon for defensive substitutions. Monasterio had a decent bat last season in 135 PAs with a .437 SLG%. His fielding has been very good in limited appearances, and he has exceptional versatility, lining up at every position besides catcher.

Connor Wong and Masataka Yoshida are returning for 2026 and will have the same roles: a defensive catcher in Wong, who will need to improve his swing, and a power-swinging DH in Yoshida, who can be useful as a corner fielder when needed.

Top Prospects

Nate Eaton OF AAA

Kristian Campbell 2B AAA

Franklin Arias SS AA

Justin Gonzalez OF A+

Dorian Soto SS Rookie

Mikey Romero INF AAA

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Projected Starting Rotation

Photo by Matt Stone/ Boston Herald

1. Garrett Crochet LHP

2. Sonny Gray RHP

3. Ranger Suarez LHP

4. Brayan Bello RHP

5. Johan Oviedo RHP

Projected Bullpen

LR Connelly Early LHP

MR Greg Weissert RHP

MR Justin Slaten RHP

MR Ryan Watson RHP

RP Danny Coulombe LHP

RP Jovani Moran LHP

SU Garrett Whitlock RHP

CL Aroldis Chapman LHP

Starting Rotation

The rotation was clearly the biggest focus of the 2025/26 offseason, and I think the Red Sox did a great job.

Garrett Crochet returns as the Red Sox ace after an unbelievable first season in Boston in 2025. His 2.59 ERA and 255 strikeouts in 205 innings were good enough for 2nd in the AL Cy Young race. Also returning is Brayan Bello, who had a decent season in 2025 and is looking to improve even more in his age-27 season.

Additions of Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez, and Johan Oviedo are replacing Lucas Giolito, Walker Buehler, and other infrequent starters such as Hunter Dobbins, Richard Fitts, and Dustin May.

Another name to watch for his return is Tanner Houck, who is still recovering from Tommy John surgery in August. His 2025 was inconsistent at best, and when he does return, he is likely to spend a good amount of "rehab" in Triple-A, but should return as a needed arm this season and has the potential to be another workhorse in the rotation.

Bullpen

After his Cy Young-voted season, Aroldis Chapman returns as the closer for the Sox. Also returning will be Garrett Whitlock, Greg Weissert, and Justin Slaton, all of whom had pretty good seasons out of the pen, as well as Connelly Early, who was part of the September call-ups, used mostly in the rotation, who really impressed and will be the prospect to watch in this group.

Jovani Moran will also return to the pen after missing almost two seasons due to Tommy John surgery in November of 2023. Playing two games in August for the Sox has been his only appearances since 2023 in Minnesota, where he greatly struggled. Moran will be on a tight leash to start the season and will likely be the first name to be sent down for a player like Crawford, Houck, or Tolle.

Being added will be Danny Coulombe, who spent 40 games of 2025 in Minnesota with a 1.16 ERA, then 15 games in Texas with a 5.25 ERA.

Top Prospects

Photo by Brian Fluharty/ Getty Images

Payton Tolle LHP AAA

Zack Kelly RHP AAA

Kyson Witherspoon RHP Rookie

Juan Valera RHP A+

Jake Bennett LHP AAA

Marcus Phillips RHP Rookie

Anthony Eyanson RHP Rookie

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Injury List

1B Tristan Casas 60-IL INF Romy Gonzalez 60-IL

SP Patrick Sandoval 15-IL

SP Kutter Crawford 15-IL

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Check out fansonlysportz.com/news for more sports media content posted daily.

Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage of the Boston Red Sox.

-Z.D. (@DrapeauZak)