The Boston Red Sox made a major offseason move by signing Alex Bregman, adding much-needed right-handed power to their lineup.

However, with Opening Day less than three weeks away, at least one key starter may not be available.

Reports suggest that outfielder Wilyer Abreu is unlikely to be ready for the start of the season. Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic noted on Bluesky that Abreu is still only tracking pitches on Trajekt and has yet to start swinging.

Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe echoed this, stating that Abreu has not been cleared for live pitching, making it clear he won’t be on the Opening Day roster.

Abreu, who had a standout rookie season and is projected as Boston’s starting right fielder for 2025, has been dealing with a gastrointestinal virus throughout Spring Training and has yet to appear in an exhibition game. After arriving at camp with the illness, he was shut down nearly two weeks into Spring Training due to abnormal lab results, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.

Acquired from the Astros in the 2022 trade for Christian Vázquez, Abreu made his MLB debut in 2023, appearing in 28 games. In 2024, he secured a starting role and finished with 15 home runs, 58 RBI, 33 doubles, and a .253/.322/.459 slash line, earning a sixth-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

His biggest impact, however, came on defense. Abreu led all MLB right fielders with 17 defensive runs saved and recorded nine outfield assists, making history as the first Red Sox rookie to win a Gold Glove since Fred Lynn in 1975. Lynn, a nine-time All-Star, won not just the Gold Glove that season, but also AL MVP and Rookie of the Year honors.

Abreu’s Situation Could Open Door For Top Prospect or Recently Signed Veteran

With Wilyer Abreu likely to miss the start of the season, the Red Sox have a few options to fill the void in right field.

Top prospect Roman Anthony could not only make the Opening Day roster but could also step in as the immediate starter. The 20-year-old former second-round pick is widely regarded as the best prospect in Boston’s farm system—and in some rankings, the top prospect in all of baseball. So far this spring, Anthony has gone 4-for-13 with a double, four RBI, three runs scored, and an impressive 4:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio over 18 plate appearances in six games.

If the Red Sox prefer to ease Anthony into the majors rather than throwing him into a high-pressure role, veteran Rob Refsnyder could get the nod in right field. The 33-year-old has been with Boston for three seasons, hitting .278 with 18 home runs, 89 RBI, and a .367 OBP over 239 games. In 2024, he posted career highs in multiple offensive categories, including home runs (11), RBI (40), and hits (77), while appearing in a personal-best 93 games.

Anthony and Refsnyder are the frontrunners for the job if Abreu is unavailable, but their potential move to a starting role could also open a bench spot for veteran Trayce Thompson. The 33-year-old younger brother of NBA star Klay Thompson joined Boston as a non-roster invitee in mid-February and has been impressive in Spring Training. In eight games, he has gone 6-for-20 with three home runs, six RBI, two doubles, and five runs scored.

With Abreu sidelined, Boston’s outfield situation remains fluid, and the coming weeks will determine who seizes the opportunity.

Rafael Devers Faces Murky Future as Well

Beyond Abreu’s absence, the Red Sox are also facing uncertainty with All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers.

The ongoing Bregman-Devers situation has left questions about who will handle third base, and Devers’ shoulder injury has kept him out of Spring Training so far. Manager Alex Cora provided an update on Friday, stating that Devers is expected to make his spring debut on either Tuesday or Wednesday, according to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey.

In Devers’ absence, Bregman has been taking most of the reps at third base this spring, while 24-year-old Vaughn Grissom has logged the most innings at second. The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham detailed defensive innings this spring, noting that Bregman has played 26 innings at third base, while Grissom leads the team with 37 innings at second.

If Abreu remains out beyond Opening Day and Devers is still working through his injury, the pressure on Bregman to perform in his Red Sox debut will be even greater.