The Boston Red Sox appear prepared to play regular season baseball following their two-game series in the Dominican Republic last weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays.
During the two games the Sox swept the Rays over the weekend, many of their stars got off to separate starts. After receiving a contract extension, Brayan Bello will make a pitch on Tuesday even though he was not selected in his hometown of DR.
As of right now, Bello is Boston’s lone reliable starter, and on March 28 against the Mariners, the team is likely to start Bello off. With five strikeouts in five innings and a 3.60 ERA thus far in the spring, he’s had a fantastic spring.
Triston Casas leads the Sox’s regular-season infield, which is largely guaranteed.
The Red Sox have stated that they anticipate using infielder Enmanuel Valdez in lieu of injured player Vaughn Grissom. Although Valdez hasn’t played his best this spring, on March 9 he helped the Sox defeat the Rays by hitting a home run in his own nation.
Compared to the other utility infield alternatives in Boston, he might be a better fit at second base. Pablo Reyes has been struggling this spring at the plate while Bobby Dalbec performs well in the corner spots.143 in 21 at-bats with seven strikeouts.
As expected, Masataka Yoshida will fill in as the designated hitter while Tyler O’Neill, one of Boston’s new outfielders, gets an opportunity to show off his skills on the field.
Although many believed Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela were competing for the same position at center field, this afternoon they will play next to each other in the pastures. Given Rafaela’s defensive prowess, which is reminiscent of Jackie Bradley Jr., Duran is a better fit for left field than center. Duran’s defense was not as good, so he could take advantage of the duplicate Green Monster. Using his speed, he will take the leadoff position.
Hopefully, Boston’s defense can be more steady than it was the previous year and the offense can find the momentum it requires. With Bello and Casas following Devers in new leadership roles with Story taking over as team captains, the Red Sox are poised for a significant change from the previous campaign as the young movement gains traction.
