The Boston Red Sox haven't made it to the World Series since 2018, but there are a number of former Sox for fans to root for — or against — in this year's Fall Classic.
The Yankees and Dodgers' battle for the Commissioner's Trophy begins on Oct. 25. MLB's two most popular, most valuable teams have a whopping seven former Red Sox split between them. Given Boston and New York's history, it's no secret which side most of them are playing on.
7 former Red Sox players in the Yankees vs Dodgers 2024 World Series
Alex Verdugo - NYY
Alex Verdugo is the only active Yankee with Red Sox history. His tenure in New York began before the 2024 season and, unfortunately for the outfielder, he posted the worst full-length campaign of his career just before he hits free agency. Verdugo slashed .233/.291/.356 with a .647 OPS over 149 regular season games and .194/.286/.258 with three RBI in the first two postseason rounds.
Mookie Betts - LAD
Mookie Betts has appeared in every postseason since he was traded to the Dodgers organization in 2019, including their World Series win in the pandemic-shortened season. Betts batted .289/.372/.491 across 116 games for LA in 2024. He began the playoffs on a slow note when he went hitless in the first two games of the NLDS, but his fortunes have changed. Betts is slashing .295/.404/.659 with 13 hits, four of them homers, and 12 RBI through the NLDS and CS.
Kiké Hernández - LAD
Kiké Hernández was a Red Sox from 2021 to the middle of the 2023 season when he was dished back to the Dodgers. Many of Red Sox Nation's fondest memories of Hernández occurred during the 2021 postseason run, when he batted .408/.423/.837 with four doubles, a triple, five homers and nine RBI in 11 games. His playoff dominance has continued this year, to the tune of a .303/.378/.485 slash line with two homers and five RBI.
Ryan Brasier - LAD
Ryan Brasier's Red Sox tenure began in the 2018 season and went until the middle of the 2023 slate when he was traded to the Dodgers. The righty allowed just one run over nine appearances en route to the 2018 World Series, but hasn't had the same luck with the Dodgers this year. He's let up four runs, three of them homers, over seven innings across the NLDS and CS.
Michael Kopech - LAD
Michael Kopech never appeared in the major leagues for the Red Sox, but his professional career began as a Red Sox prospect. Kopech was shipped to the White Sox as part of Boston's 2017 trade for Chris Sale and played in Chicago until he was sent to LA before the trade deadline. He's only allowed one run in his six postseason appearances through the first two rounds.
Joe Kelly - LAD
Joe Kelly was a Red Sox from the middle of the 2014 slate to 2018 when he won a World Series with the club. He moved to the Dodgers next season and has played in LA ever since. Between injuries and a rough 4.78 ERA on the season, Kelly has struggled this year and was left off the Dodgers' NLCS roster.
Dave Roberts - LAD
Dave Roberts has burned the Yankees in the postseason before, but this will be his first World Series against them as a manager. Roberts' Dodgers teams are notorious for choking in the early postseason rounds, but they made it to the big dance to renew the most common World Series rivalry in MLB.