Article: Assessing the Red Sox's Depth Ahead of Stretch Run

[Nick John]

Something the Red Sox have prioritized building over the last few seasons is the ability to have quality depth to call upon over the course of a 162-game campaign. This season, that need for depth has been put on full display, as several players have been shuttled back and forth between Boston and Worcester with injuries mounting in both the lineup and pitching staff.

Now, with the season entering the home stretch, depth will play an important role. Below is a list of players likely to play a role down the stretch for Boston as they continue their pursuit of their first playoff appearance since 2021.

Cooper Criswell – Pitcher
Criswell has been an interesting case since signing with Boston prior to the 2024 season. Last year, he was a surprise staple in the rotation, as he made 18 starts with the Red Sox while appearing in 26 games in total. Seen as emergency depth, Criswell won five games for the Red Sox while tossing 85 innings with a 3.49 ERA. 2025 saw him begin the season out of the bullpen with Boston, struggling at times before being optioned to Worcester. Upon returning to Worcester, Criswell pitched as part of the rotation between being called up to Boston multiple times as pitching depth when the bullpen was thin. His latest stint in Boston, however, reminded people of how well he was as a starting pitcher in 2024. In what was a huge game to win, Criswell dominated the Houston Astros by allowing just one run across seven innings pitched.

In a time where clutch pitching is needed, Criswell could see himself back up in Boston should members of the rotation (such as Walker Buehler or Dustin May) struggle down the stretch. Criswell's stuff plays better in a starting role (career 3.54 ERA vs 6.05 ERA out of the bullpen), but his ability to be a swingman and pitch either in the rotation or bullpen could make him valuable depth down the stretch.

David Sandlin – Pitcher
Sandlin spent the entire season being developed as a starter, making all his appearances either as a starter or serving in the piggyback role where he would go four or five innings out of the bullpen. Now, with roughly a month and a half left in the season, plans seemed to have changed.

Thanks in part to his impressive fastball, the Red Sox are transitioning Sandlin to the bullpen for the remainder of the year in case they decide to bring him up to Boston. If he were to be called up, Sandlin would pitch exclusively out of the bullpen where his dominant fastball would have him form a powerful bullpen alongside the likes of Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Wilson and (hopefully) Justin Slaten.

Sandlin has already made two appearances out of the bullpen as he begins the adjustment, tossing 3 1/3 innings while allowing three runs and striking out four batters. Should he get called up to Boston, he could truly transform the Red Sox's bullpen into one of the strongest in the league during the playoff chase.

Nick Sogard – Utility
Sogard has spent some time in Boston over the past two seasons, though the majority of that run came in 2024. Sogard would be an interesting piece to help out Boston thanks in part to his ability to play all over the field. Since 2023, Sogard has spent time at every position in the field except for catcher and center field. His ability to handle nearly any position could be a valuable asset for the Red Sox in late-game defensive situations. Across 75 games this season, Sogard has made eight errors, but with the Red Sox lacking middle-infield depth, he could get a chance if something should happen. While his speed isn’t as promising as David Hamilton's, he could prove to be of higher value when it comes to offense and defense.

While Sogard's bat isn’t as good as others, he can still make quality contact and put the ball in play. His power wouldn’t be nearly as important (his career OPS across 151 plate appearances is just .655), but an ability to put the ball in play and move runners over is another late game quality needed for a playoff run. Add to it that he has a great eye at the plate (209 walks in 348 Triple-A games), and there's a case for him to be a primary bench piece down the stretch.

Zack Kelly – Pitcher
Kelly, another pitcher who has been up and down with Boston this season, was just optioned to Triple-A Worcester on August 2 after completing his rehab assignment after returning from an oblique injury he suffered at the start of July.

In 17 games this season with Boston, Kelly has had mixed results leading to 5.56 ERA across just 22 2/3 innings. However, despite the high ERA, Kelly has allowed just two home runs while striking out 25 batters thanks in part to a fastball that averages 96 mph. He mixes in a cutter, sinker, slider and changeup to keep hitters off balance.

Kelly has been a recipient of bad luck this season, as his FIP is down to 3.64 on the season and he's fighting through a .344 BABIP. Given that he’s striking out nearly 10 batters per nine innings, a proper turn of luck could turn him into a strikeout-throwing, home-run-limiting option out of the bullpen, two attributes that would be valuable in the playoffs.

Kristian Campbell – Infielder
Campbell erupted onto the scene in April where he hit .301/.407/.495 with eight doubles, four home runs and 12 RBIs as he looked like an early favorite for AL Rookie of the Year. Campbell struggled after that, however, and was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on June 20.

Since going to Worcester, Campbell has worked on two parts of his game: pulling the ball with more power, and learning how to play first base. There's good news to report on both fronts, as Campbell has started to look like his old self again, hitting .268/.402/.428 with five home runs and 20 RBIs while looking more and more comfortable at first base with each passing game.

Currently, the Red Sox don’t have a need for Campbell and would prefer to let him continue to work on some parts of his game in Worcester, but should Abraham Toro continue to struggle at the plate, there’s a chance the team could look to Campbell to help out at first base alongside Romy González.

Jhostynxon Garcia – Outfielder
While the Red Sox themselves don’t need an outfielder with six of them on the roster currently (even if Rafaela has been playing second base more often than the outfield since Marcelo Mayer’s injury), Garcia might be too good to leave in Worcester.

Offensively, he has shown that despite being just 22 years old, he’s more than capable against Triple-A pitching. In 59 games with Worcester this season, the outfielder is hitting .303/370/.581 with 11 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 49 RBIs, all while playing solid defense across all three outfield positions.

What might help expedite his arrival in Boston is the fact he’s now learning how to play first base as well. While he has yet to get any game action at first base, Garcia has been learning the position and could begin playing there within the next week or so. Should he handle the position well enough, there is a good chance he could be brought up to Boston largely for his impressive bat and immense power.

And unlike most prospects, Garcia is already on the 40-man roster, so the only corresponding move needed would be someone optioned to Worcester to clear up a spot. The possibility of this young slugger being in Boston by September appears to be climbing.

View full article

[TedYazPapiMookie]

Nick - Nice job discussing the depth for the remainder of the season.  For me, I would set our roster as follows:

Hitters

Narvaez - C, Campbell - 1B, Gonzalez/Mayer 2B, Story - SS, Bregman - 3B, Anthony - LF, Duran - CF and Rafaela - RF with Abreu at DH.  That's 10 hitters so I would also carry Refsnyder, Yoshida and Maldonado (sign him to replace Wong).

Pitchers 

Crochet, Bello, Giolito, Buehler, May, Chapman, Hicks, Whitlock, Weissert, Wilson, Matz, Tolle and Sandlin.

I'm not a Kelly fan, I'm not a Sogard fan, I'm not a Criswell fan but his last start was very impressive vs Houston (he should be the 14th pitcher waiting in AAA) and I think Garcia only should be promoted if another player gets hurt on offense.  So for now with Mayer out I think Toro should be on the roster and be the 14th hitter when Mayer returns with Garcia the 15th hitter if there are two injuries.