Red Sox Give Disappointing Update on 3 Prospects for Opening Day
The Boston Red Sox have had no shortage of storylines this Spring Training, but one of the most talked about has been whether their top three prospects can break camp with the big-league club.
Top prospects are viewed as the cornerstone of Boston’s future, and they’ve entered camp with plenty of buzz. All three rank inside MLB Pipeline’s top 12 prospects ahead of the 2025 season, making it a matter of when—not if—they’ll debut in the majors this year.
However, Red Sox fans received disappointing news, as manager Alex Cora shed light on the organization’s thinking regarding their Opening Day roster chances, hinting that they may not be headed to Texas for the season opener on March 27.
Alex Cora Suggests Red Sox Top Prospects Unlikely to Make Opening Day Roster
Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Alex Cora confirmed that Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer will not be on the Opening Day roster, emphasizing that the decision is not just “ceremonial.” Cora stressed that each prospect still needs to earn a spot out of Spring Training and that the Red Sox are prioritizing winning now over accelerating player development.
“Playing time is important. The development of the player is important,” Cora said via MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “But I think winning games right now is more important.”
Cora’s remarks reflect how Spring Training has unfolded so far. Anthony, ranked No. 2 in the organization by MLB Pipeline, has performed well, slashing .273/.429/.455 with a homer and eight RBIs over 10 games (28 plate appearances). However, he’s caught behind an outfield logjam featuring Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu.
Mayer, ranked No. 12 on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 list, has also impressed, batting .360/.429/.560 with a home run and seven RBIs across 13 games. Still, with Trevor Story and Alex Bregman locked in on the left side of the infield, Mayer will likely start the season in the minors.
Meanwhile, Campbell, the No. 7 prospect, has struggled at the plate, hitting just .152/.263/.182 over 14 games. He came into camp with a shot at being the Opening Day second baseman, but his Grapefruit League performance may have pushed that timeline back.
While Cora acknowledged that all three prospects have shown promising flashes, he made it clear that platooning them at the MLB level is not the team’s plan heading into 2025.
“There’s still development, but at the same time, you see it,” Cora said. “Roman had a mature at-bat against a lefty; he’s played good outfield. Marcelo is doing the same. Campbell has struggled, but that’s part of it. Not everyone slows the game down right away.”
For now, it looks like Boston’s top trio is more likely to open the year in Worcester. However, the Red Sox may reap the benefits later this summer when one—or more—of them finally breaks through to the majors.
