The Boston Red Sox and the upper levels of their farm system are filled with so much talent that they have quite a bit of depth across the diamond for 2025.
Boston has plenty of roster cuts ahead to determine who will get a spot on the Opening Day roster. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has already confirmed one thing — they’ll use Masataka Yoshida in the outfield again this coming season.
The Nippon Professional Baseball veteran played all but one inning of his 2024 season as Boston’s designated hitter. He batted .280/.349/.415 and did a fine job, but the departure of outfielder and 2024 home run leader Tyler O’Neill to the Orioles means the Sox could use some more bodies in the pastures. Rafael Devers may also get some reps as DH, and Yoshida’s bat could be critical to the Red Sox’s success, whether some fans see it or not.
Yoshida isn’t ready to get back in the field yet, though. He underwent surgery to repair a damaged labrum in October, and although he can swing a bat just fine, his throwing recovery is behind schedule. Luckily for the Red Sox, they have multiple outfield depth options who could start the year in the field for him, including new addition Trayce Thompson.
Thompson, 33, last appeared in the big leagues with the Dodgers and White Sox in 2023. He slashed .163/.285/.294 over 72 games that year, but his Red Sox spring training appearances have been much more fruitful at the plate. He’s knocked three homers and five RBI in his seven appearances in a Red Sox uniform as of March 4.
The regular season will be a different beast with opponents’ lineups sorted out and their best pitchers on the mound, but Thompson has made a good case for a roster spot so far. If Yoshida isn’t a full go to start throwing by Opening Day, Thompson could be a defensive improvement over him with better speed, athleticism and a history of league average or better defense. In 2023, he logged one out above average and two errors over 107 games across the outfield in Triple-A last year.
Even without Yoshida in the outfield, the Red Sox have Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Rob Refsnyder, and top prospects Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell among their options. Anthony and Campbell may not break camp with the big league team and Abreu has been healing a gastrointestinal virus that still has him sidelined from baseball activities. Thompson could have a path to the roster this spring, and although he may not stick with the Red Sox, he could be a valuable depth piece early in the season.
