Sunday, March 30

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- After a three-year postseason drought, the Red Sox feel they are ready to get back among MLB’s elite teams. 

Their confidence is backed by an aggressive offseason in which three players with championship experience in Alex Bregman, Walker Buehler and Aroldis Chapman were acquired via free agency.

And perhaps the biggest addition will be Garrett Crochet, the new ace who was acquired from the White Sox for four prospects in a Winter Meetings blockbuster. 

“These players are winning players. We have winning coaches here. I plan on winning here,” said Bregman. “I can see that there's something special here.”

The bond in the clubhouse has been formed quickly.

“It's a group that enjoys being around one another,” said Crochet. “That's huge, just having that sense of camaraderie.”

Here is a categorical breakdown of what to expect from the 2025 Sox.

What needs to go right? 

The bullpen needs to be reliable. At least leading into the season, this is probably the biggest question mark on the team. Chapman (37 years old) and Liam Hendriks (36) are both in the latter stages of their careers, and they’ll go into the season as the top two relievers on manager Alex Cora’s depth chart. The Red Sox like what they have in their two Rule 5 Draft pick success stories -- Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten. Whitlock will at last settle into one role after swinging back and forth between the bullpen and rotation for several years. Slaten could evolve into a closer before long.

Great unknown
How quickly will MLB Pipeline’s No. 7 overall prospect Kristian Campbell adjust to the Majors? As Jackson Holliday proved last season with the Orioles (.566 OPS in 208 plate appearances), even the most highly-touted prospects can struggle in their initiation. The Red Sox love Campbell’s work habits and ability to absorb information. If Campbell struggles early, it will be interesting to see if Boston keeps him on the roster like it did with Dustin Pedroia after his tough April of 2007. Pedroia wound up winning the American League’s Rookie of the Year Award. 

Team MVP will be … 

Bregman. The right-handed hitter took about two hours upon arrival in camp to become a leader for not just the Major League players but also the prospects. He also has a swing built for Fenway Park. Bregman’s defense at the hot corner is smooth. Expect him to make the routine plays and many spectacular ones. Bregman hasn’t missed the playoffs in eight years, and he doesn’t plan on missing out on October this year. If Bregman indeed emerges as the team’s MVP, he will have to earn it with impact players like Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers also in the lineup.

Team Cy Young will be …

Crochet, and perhaps not just the team’s Cy Young. Crochet could emerge into one of the elite pitchers in the game and become this season’s Tarik Skubal. Spring Training did nothing to slow down the Crochet hype train as the 25-year-old notched a 0.57 ERA in five starts, punching out 30 in 15 2/3 innings. Crochet’s fastball/sinker/cutter combo is lethal, and his sweeper could become a more significant weapon as the season progresses.

Bold prediction

All three Red Sox outfielders will win the Gold Glove Award. With Duran stationed in left, Ceddanne Rafaela in center and Wilyer Abreu -- last year’s Gold Glove Award winner -- in right, this actually could happen.

The Sox came close to the trifecta in 2018, when Mookie Betts (right field) and Jackie Bradley Jr. (center) were winners and Andrew Benintendi was a finalist in left. Rafaela makes everything look easy in center. Duran was a finalist in center last year and should dominate playing a position that requires less range. Abreu has it all as a defender, from the instincts to the range to the arm.

The last time the Red Sox opened their season in Texas was in 2011. Which Boston player led the team in RBIs that day?

A) Carl Crawford

B) Adrián González

C) David Ortiz

D) Dustin Pedroia

Crochet got his first Opening Day start last season for the White Sox, engaging in a tremendous pitchers' duel with Skubal, the eventual AL Cy Young Award winner. The Tigers edged out Crochet’s White Sox, 1-0, in front of a crowd of 33,420 in Chicago.

This time around, Crochet will face off against a former Boston ace in Nathan Eovaldi, who started Opening Day for the Red Sox in three straight seasons (2020-22).

Eovaldi has struggled against Boston since joining the Rangers, going 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA in three starts.

While Fenway Park won’t open its doors until April 4, fans can go see the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox play their season opener on March 28 at 3:05 p.m. ET.

And a former fan favorite will throw out the ceremonial first pitch in Bradley. Tickets for WooSox home games are available here.

“Jackie Bradley Jr. is among the nicest, kindest, classiest gentlemen I’ve had the pleasure of working with in my career,” said WooSox president Dr. Charles Steinberg. “We are thrilled to show him our happy little ballpark, and we are even more thrilled to let him feel the appreciation of the Central Mass chapter of Red Sox Nation. He contributed mightily with his bat, glove and heart to the happiness we have experienced going back a dozen years.”

B) González

In a 9-5 loss, González went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in his debut for the Red Sox.

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