Mid-Season Rankings: Assessing the Exciting Parts of the Red Sox Roster
As we reach the midway point of the baseball season, it’s time to take a step back and evaluate the state of the Boston Red Sox. Injuries have plagued the team, and some veterans have underperformed, but there is a strong foundation in place. Can the Red Sox stay competitive this year or will they focus on building for the future? Let’s rank the most exciting parts of the Red Sox roster and gain some perspective.
Tier 1: The Young Difference-Makers
At the top of our list are two young players who have made an immediate impact on the team. Brayan Bello, a starting pitcher, and Jarren Duran, an outfielder, may not be All-Stars yet, but their potential is undeniable. Their contributions have been vital to the team’s success.
Tier 2: Impact Players Keeping the Team in Contention
Alex Verdugo, Masataka Yoshida, James Paxton, Justin Turner, Rafael Devers, Kenley Jansen, and Chris Martin make up this group. While they may not be perfect, they have played exceptionally well and provided a strong foundation for the Red Sox. Verdugo has been a bright spot, while Devers and Jansen have had their ups and downs. Overall, this core group has kept the team in contention.
Tier 3: No Complaints (Actually, Better Than Expected)
This tier includes players like Connor Wong, Rob Refsnyder, Kutter Crawford, Brennan Bernardino, and Josh Winckowski. These players have exceeded expectations and played their roles to near perfection. Wong has been exceptional behind the plate, Refsnyder has been a reliable bat, and Crawford has settled in as a back-end starter. Bernardino has become a key lefty in the bullpen, and Winckowski has been a vital piece of the pitching staff.
Tier 4: If Only They’d Stayed Healthy
Chris Sale, Adam Duvall, John Schreiber, and Yu Chang make up this tier. Sale’s return to the mound was promising before he suffered another injury. Duvall hasn’t been as hot as he was at the start of the season, and the bullpen has missed Schreiber’s presence. Chang could have been a defensive stabilizer if not for his injury. These players have shown potential but haven’t been able to stay on the field.
Tier 5: Take the Good with the Bad
Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, Nick Pivetta, Chris Murphy, Pablo Reyes, Brandon Walter, and Joe Jacques fall into this category. This group has had its ups and downs. Casas has struggled defensively but has shown improvement offensively. Houck and Whitlock have had their share of injuries but have shown potential as starters. Pivetta has been inconsistent as a starter but has been valuable out of the bullpen. Murphy, Reyes, Walter, and Jacques have played their limited roles well.
Tier 6: Probably Asked Too Much
Reese McGuire, Enmanuel Valdez, Justin Garza, David Hamilton, and Kaleb Ort make up this tier. McGuire started strong but has settled into a backup role. The rest of the players in this group were thrust into key spots due to injuries and lack of options. They have had their moments but were not expected to play significant roles.
Tier 7: Expected More (and Needed More)
Christian Arroyo, Richard Bleier, Ryan Brasier, Joely Rodríguez, Kiké Hernández, and Corey Kluber make up the final tier. Arroyo has shown improvement recently, while Bleier had good stretches before getting injured. However, the other players in this group have not lived up to expectations. Brasier was released after the team showed faith in him, Rodríguez has been ineffective and hurt, Hernández has struggled offensively, and Kluber has been disappointing as both a starter and reliever.
As we head into the second half of the season, it’s clear that the Red Sox have a talented roster with some areas for improvement. Middle infield and pitching remain the team’s greatest needs. If the Red Sox can stay healthy and address these areas, they have the potential to remain competitive this year and build for the future.