Which 2026 Red Sox Player Deserves to Be Named an All-Star?
It feels a little silly to name a Sox player to the all-star team in 2026. It’s like a store manager handing out an “employee of the month” award while that store is actively on fire. That being said, there have been commendable performances from several members of the roster this season. With the big game just over a month away, and a growing need for Boston fans to celebrate the little things, let’s review the top candidates.
A look at Fenway Park's outfield reveals two valuable talents playing notable baseball. Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, spending the majority of their time in center and right field, respectively, have certainly been competent at the plate, but their gloves have been the real sight to see. Both men currently place in the top ten in MLB defensive WAR. They regularly make diving catches, throws to home plate, and other highlights that go viral, a rare light in the darkness of the year. If we are talking strictly about the most value to the lineup, however, Willson Contreras should be the Massachusetts player showing up in Philadelphia in July. He leads the nine-time World Series Champions in every major offensive statistic, the only consistent threat to opposing pitchers all year. His trouble with getting the all-star nod is positional; he is amongst a slew of talented first basemen in the American League.
Analyzing the mound is where one might get the best answer. Despite being a closer, Aroldis Chapman is far and away the best pitching talent through March, April, and May that Boston can claim. Through 19.2 innings pitched, he has an unimaginable 0.42 ERA. He has 13 saves through 20 appearances, numbers that do not top the charts but speak to a high rate of success. The tortured part of Chapman’s season has been the struggles all around him; he has gone long stretches without being needed. A team losing every game, evidently, doesn’t have much need for a closer every night. Maybe he could be called upon by the AL, but maybe he might not be in a Sox uniform by July, as trade talks around the 38-year-old have only intensified recently. Either way, the festivities at Citizens Bank Park could be a respite for him or some other lucky Red Sox player.
