Each year around this time, fans of every MLB team wonder\u00a0which 26 men will start the season in uniform on the Opening Day roster.<\/p>\n
There are still free agents to be signed, trades to\u00a0be made, and prospects who could\u00a0potentially break camp with the big league squad. That last one is what we’re going to be talking about today. Which Boston Red Sox prospects could be on the Opening Day roster\u00a0on March 27?<\/p>\n
We’ll look at three who could make the cut and three others who have\u00a0been mentioned\u00a0who will\u00a0not<\/em>\u00a0find themselves facing the Texas Rangers that weekend.<\/p>\n Kristian Campbell’s breakout 2024 campaign will go down in history books. Between him and someone else who\u00a0will be mentioned\u00a0shortly, the bar for prospects in Boston’s system is astronomically high. They’ve\u00a0kind of\u00a0ruined fan perception of how quickly a prospect is supposed to ascend to the top.<\/p>\n Campbell only has 19 games (85 plate appearances) in Triple-A. His .286\/.412\/.486\u00a0slash line with 17 RBI indicates that might be all he needs, though.<\/p>\n The Red Sox still need to figure out a plan at second base and could use some right-handed hitting. Campbell could be the answer for both. Boston could still add free agents, but right now, the 2023 draft pick has to have an inside track on the job.<\/p>\n This one feels obvious, but you’d be surprised.\u00a0There have been people suggesting\u00a0Marcelo Mayer will join his other top prospects in Boston to start the year.<\/p>\n Mayer is an uber-talented left-handed hitting shortstop. He looked fantastic in Double-A last year. He earned a promotion to Worcester with Roman Anthony and Kyle Teel in August.<\/p>\n However, he has yet to get even one plate appearance in Triple-A. Mayer suffered an injury before playing in a game at the highest level before the big leagues. It’s nearly impossible to imagine that the Red Sox would throw the 22-year-old into the fire like that. Let him start the season in Triple-A and work his way to the majors, which may not take long.<\/p>\n Roman Anthony had a breakout year in 2023 and\u00a0somehow\u00a0still outshot expectations in 2024. Most media outlets have Anthony as the top prospect in all of baseball.<\/p>\n The left-handed hitting outfielder slashed .291\/.367\/.489 with 32 doubles, four triples, and 18 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. He drove\u00a0in\u00a065 runs, scored 93 more, and stole 21 bases. The most impressive part was the jump Anthony saw in Triple-A. While with Worcester, he slashed .344\/.463\/.519 with 31 walks compared to 31 strikeouts in 35 games.<\/p>\n Anthony doesn’t have much time in Triple-A under his belt, but his brief stint was so dominant that you have to wonder if Boston needs to see anything more from him. The Red Sox currently have\u00a0an abundance of\u00a0outfield talent and don’t need more left-handed bats. However, Anthony could play himself into a role during spring training. All eyes will be on the 20-year-old around the league.<\/p>\n Richard Fitts is disqualified from BoSox Injection’s top 30 prospects rankings because he’s already appeared in the majors. However, he’s still a prospect in the eyes of MLB, and that’s what counts here.<\/p>\n Fitts looked solid in his first short stint with the Red Sox last year. The right-handed pitcher posted a 1.74 ERA in 20 2\/3 innings over four starts. However, his .250 BAA and\u00a0inability to miss bats (nine strikeouts) could use some tuning up.<\/p>\n The Red Sox have added nicely to their rotation this offseason. Boston acquired Garrett Crochet in a trade, they signed Walker Buehler, and Lucas Giolito will be returning from injury. Fitts has the potential to be a nice rotational piece. There is work to be done with him, though. Meanwhile, Boston doesn’t need the help at the moment. He’s perfect\u00a0as someone who can\u00a0be used\u00a0as organizational depth in 2025.<\/p>\n Luis Guerrero appeared in nine games for the Red Sox last season but still holds prospect status. He didn’t allow a run over 10 innings. The right-handed reliever picked up three holds while walking just two batters (something he’s had issues with in the past) and striking out nine.<\/p>\n Guerrero can touch 100 MPH with his fastball and has a nasty splitter. There’s legitimate closer potential with him. Boston did add a bit to the bullpen this offseason, but there’s still an opening for him to make the roster out of spring training. Don’t be surprised if Guerrero turns heads in March.<\/p>\n Zach Penrod similarly impressed out of the bullpen in his short major league stint in 2024. The left-handed pitcher allowed one earned run in four innings over seven appearances.<\/p>\n Penrod walked four batters and hit another, which is\u00a0a bit of\u00a0a problem. However, he has a great fastball and some devastating breaking pitches. He impressed in the minor leagues all year and looked promising in his time with the Red Sox.<\/p>\n So why won’t he make the team out of camp? The Sox added Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson this offseason. Boston doesn’t need more left-handed bullpen arms.<\/p>\n Even before the additions,\u00a0it appeared\u00a0the Red Sox wanted Penrod to transition back into a starting role (he started in 19 of his first 20 games in the minor leagues before moving to the bullpen for his final 10).<\/p>\n The move to reliever last year felt like a way for Boston to get Penrod to the majors to see how he fared. Now that they have improved the roster and look to be better in 2025, he can go back to the minors and be rotation depth. Penrod may be older for a prospect (27), but there’s\u00a0a lot\u00a0to love \u2014 the Red Sox wanting him to be a starter makes sense.<\/p>\n Opening Day of the 2025 MLB season is drawing closer. Which prospects will make the roster to start the season for the Boston Red Sox, and which will not?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":29845,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n3 Red Sox prospects who will make the Opening Day roster and 3 who will not<\/h2>\n
Making the Cut – Kristian Campbell<\/h3>\n
Not\u00a0making the cut\u00a0– Marcelo Mayer<\/h3>\n
Making the cut\u00a0– Roman Anthony<\/h3>\n
Not\u00a0making the cut\u00a0– Richard Fitts<\/h3>\n
Making the cut\u00a0– Luis Guerrero<\/h3>\n
Not making the cut – Zach Penrod<\/h3>\n
More Red Sox reads:<\/h2>\n