Baseball’s offseason hiatus finally concludes as the Boston Red Sox prepare to take the field for their first spring training game on February 21. While teams often hold off on fielding star players early in camp, manager Alex Cora has unveiled a lineup filled with intriguing names for Friday’s exhibition against Northeastern University at JetBlue Park. The starting roster, announced during Cora’s February 19 press conference, highlights prospects and newcomers:
1B– Abraham Toro
2B – Kristian Campbell
SS – Marcelo Mayer
3B – Nick Sogard
RF – Jhostynxon Garcia
CF – Nate Eaton
LF– Roman Anthony
SP – Brian Van Belle
Cora noted the designated hitter role remains unspecified but confirmed catchers are under consideration. Masataka Yoshida, still rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery, will not feature.
Prospects Shine in Spring Training Debut
The lineup spotlights Boston’s highly touted “Big Three” prospects—Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer—who aim to showcase their skills this spring. Anthony and Campbell are vying for Opening Day roster spots, while Mayer’s chances appear slimmer due to his truncated 2024 season (cut short by a back injury) and lack of Triple-A experience.
Offseason acquisition Abraham Toro, a versatile right-handed bat, brings MLB experience from four clubs, including a .240/.293/.350 slash line in 94 games with the 2024 Athletics. Meanwhile, outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, 22, turned heads in 2024 by climbing three minor-league tiers en route to Double-A, posting a .286/.356/.536 line (.892 OPS) in 107 games. His standout performance earned him Rule 5 Draft protection.
On the mound, 28-year-old Brian Van Belle looks to impress after a mixed 2024 Triple-A stint (4.42 ERA, 87 strikeouts in 93.2 innings).
Spring Schedule Heats Up
Following the Northeastern matchup, the Red Sox launch their Grapefruit League slate on February 22 against the Tampa Bay Rays, kicking off a series of games against MLB opponents.
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