What Will the Red Sox Outfield Look Like When Their Young Star Returns in 2026?
It’s hard to imagine anything being better than the current iteration of the Red Sox. Still, the long-awaited return of Roman Anthony fills the mind and heart with excitement anyway. The 22-year-old slugger, who has been sidelined with various injuries since May 4th, seems to be preparing for a return. He has reportedly been hitting off a machine at increasingly high velocities, the best announcement on his condition so far. With the team playing such quality baseball in his absence, however, one must wonder how he will fit back in.
The purported crowded outfield problem for Boston has been discussed since the offseason, though the weight of the discussion has shifted multiple times since then. When the team was at its worst, through the first couple months, Roman was slumping too. He was sharing time with other players and struggling to do it. This was likely influenced by the hand injuries that eventually sidelined him. The hope upon return is that he looks more like his 2025 self, when he debuted and promptly put the league on notice. The former top prospect hit .292 that season, an average that would be the best in the 2026 lineup. He added eight home runs in just 71 games, which would place nicely amongst the stellar bats of Beantown lately. Additionally, his higher-than-average walk rate is a great addition to a team with an ever-improving eye.
Boston’s rising superstar will likely spend most of his time in left field, as he did last season. Considering both sides of the ball, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu are two of the best players on the squad and in the league. This will mean that Jarren Duran will see less game time, which, frankly, is a necessary adjustment. One can’t dismiss Duran altogether; he has delivered undeniable highs during the great summer surge. That being said, his performance is nowhere near the caliber of his buddies in the center and on the right. His attitude and behavior have also proven troublesome over time. Perhaps he will DH more frequently, or maybe the West Palm Beach native will take on that role if the Sox wish to use him conservatively. Whatever happens, it is a new thing to be excited about in a moment that is practically bursting with them.
