Red Sox Spring Training Recap

It is the start of spring, which can mean a couple of different things. Warmer weather and longer days which means baseball is here!  

Newest Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet has made four starts so far this spring training 

(Photo Courtesy: Masslive) 

The Red Sox started their spring training in February and are getting ready for the upcoming season. Chief Baseball Officer (GM) Craig Breslow made some great moves over the offseason, with the biggest being trading for LHP Garrett Crochet and signing two-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner Alex Bregman to a three-year $120 million contract with opt-outs every year. 

Other minor additions were RHP Walker Buehler, and LHPs Aroldis Chapman and Patrick Sandoval. While all these acquisitions are great, the Sox lost OF Tyler O’Neill, and RHP’s Nick Pivetta and Kenley Jensen.  

The Red Sox began Spring Training with a tradition that started in 2004. On February 21st they played the Northeastern Huskies and won 5-2. The club has played games versus other professional teams with all their games being played against Grapefruit league opponents. The team is currently 13-9 and are in first place in the league. 

Recently, on March 15th Red Sox Manager Alex Cora named Garrett Crochet the starter for opening day. Crochet was acquired from the Chicago White Sox on December 11th in exchange for four minor league prospects. The major losses in this trade were catching prospect Kyle Teel and the recently drafted OF Braden Montgomery who were ranked 32nd and 54th among  top MLB prospects respectively.  

However, the Sox (that is the Red Sox) gained a true ace who is going into his age 26 season and will hopefully sign an extension to be a Red Sock for a long time. Crochet has impressed so far this spring in the four games he has pitched so far. In 10.1 innings pitched he has recorded 21 K’s and only given up eight hits. He recorded seven strikeouts against the Twins on March 16th over just four innings of work.  

For the first time in a very long time, the Red Sox have one of the best rotations in the big leagues, as long as the staff can stay healthy. In fact, MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovince has them ranked the seventh overall pitching staff entering baseball this season. The biggest worry for the Red Sox is their bullpen, and they have two major issues. The first is that injuries have derailed this group in the past. However, the depth signings have made the bullpen more stable. As long as a big arm in the bullpen does not go down, they should be all right.  

The second is the closer situation. LHP Liam Hendricks is the most likely candidate for the job even though he has not pitched since the 2023 season, Hendricks is also coming off Tommy John Surgery from that season. Another left-handed pitcher, Aroldis Chapman, is no stranger to closing out games with 335 career saves and can still throw well over 100 miles per hour, so there is that option as well. Overall, this has been the best both parties have been since their 2021 playoff run. 

Alex Bregman has won two world titles, is a two-time all-star, and has one Sliver Slugger and Gold Glove 

(Photo from Sports Illustrated) 

When Alex Bregman signed with the Red Sox on February 15th it was reported that he would be playing second base. However, almost over a week later he made his Red Sox debut and went 3-3 with a double and a home run while playing third base. This is Bregman’s natural position where he played most of this Astro's tenure. In fact, last season he won the Gold Glove at third, lead all American Leaguers in fielding percentage with .972, and games played at the position with 142.  

Bregman does have one critic, current third basemen Rafael Devers. Devers, who just recently made his spring debut on March 15th, a month after Bregman had signed. Devers has been the Red Sox everyday third baseman for many years now, even though he is not the best in the field. While Rafael Devers is not the worst player out on the diamond, even at his position, he did lead the American League in Errors last season. However, recently, Devers said in an interview that he was "good to do whatever" for the team to win, even if this means playing designated hitter.  

While Spring Training is wrapping up, the team will head to Monterrey Mexico and play the winter league team Sultanes de Monterrey. The Sox will play two exhibition games against the Sultanes on March 24-25 then hop the border to Arlington, Texas to take on the Rangers for opening day on the 27th.