The 2025 season is now well underway and Opening Day at Fenway Park is finally upon us. Luckily for Red Sox fans, Boston’s brass finally woke up this winter and brought in some bona fide MLB talent, marking a stark contrast to the 2024 team.
The additions of Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, Alex Bregman, and more are expected to take the Sox to the next level, and many reporters and experts predict they'll take the AL East crown for the first time since 2018.
Last year, Sox fans weren't so lucky. After a winter of inactivity, the 2024 Red Sox had a talent shortage, with several unproven and journeyman players making the final roster. Here's a glimpse back at the state of the team last year with three players you may have forgotten were on the Opening Day roster.
3 Players you may have forgotten were on the 2024 Red Sox Opening Day roster
Pablo Reyes
First on our list is utilityman Pablo Reyes. Despite his underwhelming numbers in 2023, Reyes quickly became a favorite among Red Sox fans for his infectious and upbeat personality. However, 2024 was not kind to the journeyman — he appeared in just 21 games, putting up a .183 average and a 27 OPS+. The Red Sox designated him for assignment in April and he soon signed with the New York Mets. Reyes’ tenure in Queens was short-lived, though, and he appeared in just one game.
Reyes eventually signed with the archrival New York Yankees for the 2025 season. He was initially sent to Triple-A, but he was recently selected to the Yankees’ 40-man roster.
Enmanuel Valdez
Enmanuel Valdez came to the Red Sox in 2022 via the Christian Vázquez trade. Valdez, who many considered the centerpiece of the trade, had a good start to his Red Sox career in 2023. In 49 games, the infielder hit .266 and amassed a 102 wRC+ with six home runs. Unfortunately, he struggled in 2024 and batted just .214 in 76 games. Valdez was DFA’d in December after the club acquired backup catcher Carlos Narváez.
Valdez eventually found a home with the Pittsburgh Pirates and made their Opening Day squad.
Bobby Dalbec
Bobby Dalbec, a fourth-round pick in 2016, had a turbulent time in Boston. He posted a great shortened 2020 season, hitting eight home runs and finishing with 149 OPS+ in 23 games. Dalbec had his best season in 2021 as the team’s primary first baseman. He smashed 25 home runs with a 107 OPS+ in 133 games. Sadly for Dalbec, he could never replicate that production and his success at the plate steadily declined over the years. 2024 finally marked the end of Dalbec's time in Boston when he batted .133 and sported a paltry 16 OPS+ in 37 games. His suffering as a Red Sox finally ended in September when he was finally DFA’d by the club, marking an end to a depressing saga.
Dalbec went unclaimed and eventually signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in January 2025, with a non-roster invite to spring training. Dalbec batted .250 in 16 games before being optioned to Triple-A.