Red Sox 2026 Spring Training

[mvp 78]

 

[Behindenemylines]

On 2/22/2026 at 12:05 PM, moonslav59 said:

I think Cora's line-up choices give us a look at his intentions. I think we see this as the general template, but maybe some tweaks are made for L-R starters.

1. L Anthony

2. R Story

3. L Duran

4. R Contreras

5. L Abreu

6. R Durbin

After this it gets murky, but he seemed to like Narvaez, last year. I'll go with...

7. R Narvaez

8. L Mayer (R Romy)

9. R Rafaela

I agree! The increase in power will have to come from the young guys: Anthony, Abreu, Mayer, and Rafaela, plus from his showing this spring Duran might have more power in him. I guess you could think that Contreras and Durbin may hit a few more homers because of Fenway.

[mvp 78]

41 minutes ago, Behindenemylines said:

I agree! The increase in power will have to come from the young guys: Anthony, Abreu, Mayer, and Rafaela, plus from his showing this spring Duran might have more power in him. I guess you could think that Contreras and Durbin may hit a few more homers because of Fenway.

Contreras should be good for 25. Durbin? I wouldn't count on a HR surge, but maybe a 2b surge. 

[drewski6]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Contreras should be good for 25. Durbin? I wouldn't count on a HR surge, but maybe a 2b surge. 

Love doubles.

[mvp 78]

Braiden Ward's torrid spring continues. (1000 OPS) Just hitting absolute nukes today.

1st AB: 30.1 MPH, 58'

2nd AB: 25.3 MPH, 44'

 

 

[mvp 78]

Ryan Watson also can't stop giving up runs. What's Justin Riemer up to these days? 

[mvp 78]

Ward HBP in 3rd at bat. 

9 SB's already this ST. 

[mvp 78]

Just now, mvp 78 said:

Ward HBP in 3rd at bat. 

9 SB's already this ST. 

10 SB's.

[mvp 78]

Braiden Ward is this year's Pedro Ciriaco.

[drewski6]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Braiden Ward's torrid spring continues. (1000 OPS) Just hitting absolute nukes today.

1st AB: 30.1 MPH, 58'

2nd AB: 25.3 MPH, 44'

 

 

My buddy Pat is texting me about it right now, and he was an all-star closer in college so he knows (granted a division III school, but still) - further than I got.  And I cant hit his slider, no way. Dudes turning 40 and still throws a low-eighties wipe out slider (it was mid 80s in his prime).

[drewski6]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Braiden Ward is this year's Pedro Ciriaco.

More like: Pedro Cerrano

"Bats are sick, I cannot hit curveball"

[mvp 78]

 

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

 

Ward doesnt make the spring breakout roster?  Shouldnt he be like: name 1.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

Ward doesnt make the spring breakout roster?  Shouldnt he be like: name 1.

No, they use prospect lists to create the squad. Ward is post-prospect.

[drewski6]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

No, they use prospect lists to create the squad. Ward is post-prospect.

Because hes not under 25?  You cant be over 24 and be a prospect?  

[drewski6]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

No, they use prospect lists to create the squad. Ward is post-prospect.

Ryan Watson is 28 and has a page on sox prospects.

[drewski6]

I think they need to update their prospect list and put him at....16? Bump Miguel to 17?

[drewski6]

Have we ever seen a bunt double?

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, drewski6 said:

Ryan Watson is 28 and has a page on sox prospects.

Is Watson pitching in the spring breakout game??? Is Watson listed on any national lists? 

[drewski6]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Is Watson pitching in the spring breakout game??? Is Watson listed on any national lists? 

I would assume not, but I would assume that because Watson has a sox prospects page that ranks him our #19 prospect, he is a prospect ....So Im not sure why Braiden Ward isnt on their radar at sox prospects or why he is considered a post-prospect. Unless its a timing thing, which I assume to be the case.  

I didnt realize this was an actual roster that plays a game.  I thought it was someone ranking spring breakouts.  Ward might not have been considerd a prospect a month ago, but he is now.

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

I would assume not, but I would assume that because Watson has a sox prospects page that ranks him our #19 prospect, he is a prospect ....So Im not sure why Braiden Ward isnt on their radar at sox prospects or why he is considered a post-prospect. Unless its a timing thing, which I assume to be the case.  

I didnt realize this was an actual roster that plays a game.  I thought it was someone ranking spring breakouts.  Ward might not have been considerd a prospect a month ago, but he is now.

Ward hasn't really been on any national prospect lists and self admittedly signed "for a chicken sandwhich" as a 16th rounder. I found him on a Rockies list from a few years ago in the 30's. He's always been a guy that has taken a while to go from level to level (2 years in high A) for various reasons. 

I'm not entirely sure about SP's rules on age and how they determine prospect eligibility like Watson vs Ward. National lists tend to be more age based. Pipeline doesn't list Watson in their top 30. That seems to be the list used to build the breakout roster. 

[drewski6]

I see now that this is more of an MiLB thing than a local/team thing.  And I assume that Ward rose too quickly to be considered for this.  But I dont think its that he aged out or anything like that because Mullins in on the team and hes 26.  I think Ward is a prospect, and a good one, the world just has to catch up.  He'll be on soxprospects.com prospect list in 2 weeks. And he'll be higher than plenty of guys on the prospects team.

[drewski6]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Ward hasn't really been on any national prospect lists and self admittedly signed "for a chicken sandwhich" as a 16th rounder. I found him on a Rockies list from a few years ago in the 30's. He's always been a guy that has taken a while to go from level to level (2 years in high A) for various reasons. 

I'm not entirely sure about SP's rules on age and how they determine prospect eligibility like Watson vs Ward. National lists tend to be more age based. Pipeline doesn't list Watson in their top 30. That seems to be the list used to build the breakout roster. 

If Ward spends this entire year for Woo, and does decently well, I bet he'll be on the team next year even at 28. Its hard to enter the prospect universe when you are north of 25 and were never considered a top prospect before, but its possible.  I certainly agree age is taken into account.  If you try out for WWE and do decent and you are 19 they would be more interested in you than if you were 37.  

I see what you are saying, and Im starting to agree.  The only thing is that I dont think its a knock or anything based on anything "going-forward". By that I mean, I dont think they are like "yeah but heres why we dont think hes a future MLB player", I think the fact that hes not on the team is more because of hte past.  Its hard to rise from off all prsopects lists/radars wh osigned for a chicken sandwich to on a breakout / future games in one spring.  Its harder to make it if you are 27.  So I get he has all that working against him.

But this is more than just a fun story. Ward has real trade value TODAY. And his soxprospects page is coming.  Id put him at like #17.  ANd if he was 20 years old he'd be like #8.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

10 SB's.

11 SB's FWIW

[drewski6]

I found a few bunt doubles so its been done.  Mostly harder bunts that went through the infield or down teh line against a shift and there was just nobody there.  But its been done.  Maybe Ward will hit the first bunt triple?

[drewski6]

See Ward is a guy who I want going to the plate, thinking "I really want a walk here". Casas, not so much.

[moonslav59]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Ward HBP in 3rd at bat. 

9 SB's already this ST. 

Maybe Brez will do what Bloom couldn't do enough--

find the diamonds in the rough.

[JoeBrady]

4 hours ago, drewski6 said:

I found a few bunt doubles so its been done.  Mostly harder bunts that went through the infield or down teh line against a shift and there was just nobody there.  But its been done.  Maybe Ward will hit the first bunt triple?

Michael Taylor in 2023 was the last one.

[mvp 78]

15 hours ago, drewski6 said:

If Ward spends this entire year for Woo, and does decently well, I bet he'll be on the team next year even at 28.

He'll be a MiLB FA this offseason. If he does reasonably well, he may hold out for a better opportunity elsewhere and not stick around.

[drewski6]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

He'll be a MiLB FA this offseason. If he does reasonably well, he may hold out for a better opportunity elsewhere and not stick around.

Sounds like he priced himself out of Boston this spring (kidding!)