Red Sox Opening Day roster projection 3.0: Bello starts, Rafaela flexes versatility

2 of 5

Opening Day is less than two weeks away, and the Boston Red Sox are going full throttle during Grapefruit League games.

With positive results record-wise, the top brass of the Red Sox should be pleased with the production they've seen from the players looking to cement their places on the major league roster.

Some injuries have occurred since the previous Opening Day roster projection — Rob Refsnyder has a fractured left pinky toe, which undoubtedly puts his status for Opening Day up in the air. The oft-injured Tyler O'Neill has been nursing calf tightness this spring, but he made his delayed return to the lineup on March 19. Both Refsnyder and O'Neill represent veteran right-handed bats who the Sox desperately need available over the year.

Many of the young Sox have had good showings in Grapefruit League play this spring, but not all of them can make the 26-man roster. Which players should pack their rain jackets in anticipation of beginning the season in Seattle, and which should beware the ides of March?

Red Sox Opening Day Roster Projection 3.0: activity around the margins

Red Sox Opening Day Starting Rotation:

1. Brayan Bello
2. Nick Pivetta
3. Kutter Crawford
4. Tanner Houck
5. Garrett Whitlock

Jordan Montgomery who? Red Sox pitchers (particularly starting pitchers) have flashed very positive signs this spring training.

Brayan Bello received a massive vote of confidence in the form of a contract extension and the Opening Day starter role. Bello must improve both his metrics and location of his 4-seamer if he wants to make a big leap this season.

Stuff-wise, Nick Pivetta and Kutter Crawford's riding 4-Seam Fastballs are truly upper-echelon pitches — very Justin Verlander-esque. Pivetta's stuff has looked good this Spring, he's touching 96mph with massive ride, and he's throwing a plethora of 0-0 breaking balls for strikes. A true north-south pitcher, Pivetta is taking a lot of flak from Sox fans for being the #2 starter. If Pivetta can add some velocity to his slider and land his curveball out of the clouds and into the strike zone with some regularity, he could set himself up well for a big contract going into next season.

Tanner Houck has been a stand-out performer at camp. His 2.40 ERA, 16 strikeouts and three walks make him a shoo-in for a rotation spot. Garrett Whitlock could secure the fifth starter role as he's showing more tumble on changeup and two-seam than before, and just has more success than Cooper Criswell and Josh Winckowski at the major league level.

Red Sox Opening Day Bullpen:

Greg Weissert
Brennan Bernardino
Justin Slaten
Isaiah Campbell
Cooper Criswell
Josh Winckowski
Chris Martin
Kenley Jansen

No surprises on the back end unless Craig Breslow decides to trade Jansen or Martin at some point soon, which is unlikely at this point, especially because both are dealing with injuries. Jansen's back tightness may impact his ability to play on Opening Day, but a veteran such as he should only require a few appearances to get ready for the season.

New addition Greg Weissert has flashed some ++ stuff this spring. Weissert's sinker-slider-sweeper combination has some crazy horizontal movement — he could end up being an improvement over John Schreiber for the Sox. Justin Slaten also seems like a lock, as he's out of waiver options and Breslow will want to retain the asset.

Red Sox Opening Day Infield:

Triston Casas (1B)
Enmanuel Valdez (2B)
Trevor Story (SS)
Rafael Devers (3B)
Connor Wong (C)
Reese McGuire (C)
Bobby Dalbec (INF)
Pablo Reyes (INF)
Ceddanne Rafaela (INF/OF)

Expect Comeback Player of the Year-caliber seasons from both Rafael Devers and Trevor Story this year. If Story plays more than 115 games at shortstop, the left side of the infield's defense should be much improved.

Triston Casas is poised for a monster season, and is looking a little more spry at first base this spring. In Monday's game against Minnesota, Bobby Dalbec made a throw bound for the camera well but Casas made a full-extension catch with his foot still on the bag to preserve the out. All the yoga he does before games is coming in handy.

If Ceddanne Rafaela makes the team, he will be taking the majority of his reps in center field. However, Alex Cora indicated that Rafaela will be taking infield reps in the last few games of Grapefruit League action. The 70-grade fielder could add even more value to his glove if he can play a successful middle infield at the big-league level. Rafaela is a natural shortstop, after all, so it does make sense to give him a shot at some playing time in the middle infield in second baseman Vaughn Grissom's absence.

Red Sox Opening Day Outfield:

Jarren Duran (OF)
Tyler O'Neill (OF)
Wilyer Abreu (OF)
Ceddanne Rafaela (INF/OF)
Masataka Yoshida (DH/OF)

Right field will be a very interesting position to monitor for the Red Sox this season. Tyler O'Neill and Jarren Duran don't have strong enough arms to be viable, every day right fielders for Boston, and putting Masataka Yoshida there would be a disaster.

Enter Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu. While Rafaela's talents would be better suited to center field, the Red Sox might need to use Rafaela in right sometimes so Abreu — who's struggled mightily at the plate this spring — isn't a stalwart all season.

Notable Red Sox starting the season in the minor leagues

David Hamilton
Zack Kelly
Romy González

Notable Red Sox starting the season on the injured list

Vaughn Grissom
Rob Refsnyder
Bryan Mata
Chris Murphy

Bryan Mata, a former top pitching prospect for the Sox, will more than likely begin the season on the IL as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Mata is out of waiver options, like Slaten, and he could be a DFA candidate. Breslow will have a decision to make — DFA the once great prospect and risk losing him, or supplant a Campbell or Criswell with Mata, who's yet to make his big league debut.