The Salem Red Sox are the Single-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. With MLB's opening day less than a week away, we're inching closer to the start of the Single-A season as well.
With that in mind, it's time to start wondering what the Single-A roster will look like. Salem should have one of the most exciting lineups in Boston's system. They're pairing it with plenty of intriguing pitching options to keep things interesting.
Who will make the 30-man roster on opening day? Let's predict the team.
Projecting the 2025 Opening Day roster of the Salem Red Sox
Catchers
- Johanfran Garcia
- Gerardo Rodriguez
- Andruw Musett (C/1B)
Garcia was tearing up Single-A pitching early in 2024 before an injury ended his season after just 14 games. But don't be surprised if it's not a long stay. It will be interesting to see how much he catches following the injury.
Rodriguez joined the team late in the season and went 8-for-21 (.381) in seven games. All eight hits were singles, though, so it will be interesting to see what the power increase looks like. Musett appeared in 17 games for Salem last season. His offensive numbers weren't great but he's shown potential. Musett can also play first base if needed.
Infielders
- Frederik Jimenez (1B/C)
- Freili Encarnacion (1B/3B)
- Yoeilin Cespedes (2B/SS)
- Franklin Arias (2B/SS)
- Conrad Cason (SS)
- Antonio Anderson (3B)
- Nazzan Zanetello (SS/2B/OF)
Jimenez is another guy who can play first base and catcher. He put up solid numbers in the FCL last year, so there's something to get excited about. Listed at 6'3", 180 lbs, he could stand to add a bit of beef.
Encarnacion could start in High-A, but I chose to give the spot to Marvin Alcantara and keep Encarnacion in Single-A because he can play first base, and there was no need for another first baseman in High-A. The right-handed hitter didn't produce a lot of extra-base hits last year, but he hits the ball hard.
Cespedes was promoted before Arias last year and had higher expectations. However, an injury led to him never playing in Single-A. The right-handed hitter has phenomenal offensive tools and could mash even in Salem's tough ballpark. He'll likely move around the infield.
Arias blossomed into a star last season, and 2025 could be an even bigger year for him. The right-handed hitter should lead off and should benefit from having Cespedes behind him. Expect him to get most of his playing time at shortstop.
Cason was an eighth-round pick in 2024 that the Red Sox managed to convince not to go to College. The right-handed hitter has plus speed and great defense. He has fun potential with the bat as well. Cason will hopefully get a game or two at shortstop each week, or at least as the DH. He's my most anticipated watch in 2025.
Anderson is a switch-hitting third baseman who struggled for a majority of the 2024 season. We saw him start to pick it up at times, though. It's important to remember that he'd likely have spent his season with Low-A Lowell if that was still a thing. Anderson has real offensive potential, don't let his first season fool you.
Zanetello is in the same boat as Anderson. He's a raw prospect who probably would've started 2024 in Lowell if he could have. I don't expect Zanetello to be in Salem much longer, but I think he'll start there so they can work on a few things and make sure he's healthy (he wasn't last year).
Outfielders
- Natanael Yuten
- Raimundo De Los Santos
- Kelvin Diaz
- Karim Ayubi
- Yosander Asencio
- Stanley Tucker (UTIL)
Yuten was ridiculously underrated last year. The left-handed hitter consistently came up in clutch situations and put up good stats as a 19-year-old. He's similar to Zanetello. I think Yuten could start in High-A, but they'll give him a bit of extra seasoning in Single-A to start the year.
De Los Santos stood out in the FCL last season due to his speed and amazing name. He showed little power but boasted a .363 OBP with 28 steals in 46 games.
Diaz spent some time in Single-A in 2024. He's a right-handed hitter with good speed and some power potential with his bat.
Ayubi took a while to get to Salem but managed to break into Single-A ball last season. The left-handed hitter has plenty of competition, so he'll need to impress to get a real shot.
Asencio struck out too much in the FCL last season. Outside of that issue, he was phenomenal. The switch-hitter posted a .271/.393/.441 slash line in 43 games.
Tucker spent last year in Single-A. There, he struggled with the bat but brought in defensive versatility. The right-handed hitter adds speed and defense to keep him in the lineup regularly.
Starting Pitchers
- Juan Valera
- Conrad Cason
- Luis Cohen
- Devin Futrell (L)
- Steven Brooks
- Blake Aita
- Adam Bates
Valera is a 19-year-old who hit 100 MPH in spring training. Not much else needs to be said. The right-hander looked fantastic in Single-A last year and feels like a prime breakout candidate in 2025.
Cason being listed as a hitter and a pitcher is not a mistake. He should be given the chance to do both and could excel, as he has in college. If he struggles, maybe the Red Sox ask him to focus on one. For now, though, let him test the waters.
Cohen was sneaky good for Salem last year. The left-handed pitcher will need to start 2025 at the level due to a loaded High-A pitching staff, though.
Futrell was a 10th-round pick for Boston in 2024. The 6'5" lefty will likely be trying to work on his velocity this year.
Brooks was the 11th-round pick for the Red Sox last year. Like Futrell, he'll be working on his velocity and pitch mix in general this season.
Aita was the sixth-round pick for Boston in 2024. Again, he'll be working on his velocity, but he has some good off-speed pitches. That will help, as he can lean on them while working on his fastball.
Bates saw a significant bump in velocity last season. Could the Australian see another one in 2025? The righty needs to work on his command, but the pitches are there.
Relief Pitchers
- Shea Sprague (L)
- Nicholas De La Cruz (L)
- Nicholas Judice
- Griffin Kilander
- Matt McShane
- Joe Vogatsky
- Manuel Medina (L)
- Eduardo Rivera (L)
Sprague is a fun lefty drafted in the 13th round last season. He was a starter but I can see Salem using him out of the bullpen to start the year and seeing where it goes.
De La Cruz is a 19-year-old lefty who should see improvements in his pitches over the next few seasons. Don't worry too much if he struggles in 2025.
Judice was part of the Alex Verdugo trade with New York that also netted the Red Sox Richard Fitts and Greg Weissert. The righty has intriguing stuff but hasn't been healthy since getting to Boston, only throwing 4 2/3 innings in Salem last year.
Kilander was a 16th-round pick for Boston last year and looked phenomenal in his short Single-A stint. The righty allowed just one run on one hit in 7 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.
McShane was sent to Boston by the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Chase Shugart. The right-handed pitcher struck out 57 batters in 43 1/3 innings at St. Joe's last season. Vogatsky was brought in via the Pirates (the Red Sox trade with them a lot) in the Enmanuel Valdez trade. The righty hasn't appeared in a minor league game yet but can hit the high 90s with his fastball.
Medina is a Rule 5 draft pick taken from the Marlins. The left-handed pitcher gets a lot of strikeouts despite nothing great in the velocity department. Maybe Boston can unlock something with him.
Rivera looked amazing for Salem last year after struggling for Oakland's High-A team. The lefty might get more time in Single-A to work on a few things before the Red Sox try him out in their High-A affiliate.