The Boston Red Sox's decision to part with David Hamilton in the Caleb Durbin-Kyle Harrison trade didn't attract much of a reaction other than "finally" from most fans, but it did remove a key defensive sub and pinch runner from Alex Cora's bench.
While Andruw Monasterio could be locking down an Opening Day roster spot as a utility infielder during his spring training breakout, the team could still use a little more upside off the bench, particularly in terms of creating chaos on the basepaths.
Luckily, Braiden Ward is more than clearing the bar — he's practically taken the bar home with him. Through 15 spring training contests (35 plate appearances), the 27-year-old outfielder is batting .448/.543/.483 (180 wRC+) with 16(!) stolen bases that easily leads the league. For reference, Jared Olivia of the San Francisco Giants sits in second place this spring with seven.
In a crowded bench picture, is Ward's breakout enough to earn him some Opening Day consideration in Boston.
If you were worried, YES, Braiden Ward stole another base this afternoon. He’s now up to 14 in 14 games this spring. pic.twitter.com/AKQvaT1aUc
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) March 9, 2026
Braiden Ward's spring breakout furthers Red Sox's outfield logjam
While his batting line is impressive, there should be no doubt about Ward's premier skill: his speed. In the Cape Cod League in 2019, Ward ran a 60-yard dash in just 6.20 seconds; his time from home to first is similarly among the best in all of baseball.
The Red Sox acquired Ward this offseason for lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino in a roster-focused move with the Colorado Rockies. A 2021 draft pick, Ward is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, but the Red Sox will almost certainly find a way to get him on the 40-man roster at some point this season. Since his first full professional season in 2022, he's stolen at least 44 bases every year, including 57 in just 97 games in 2025.
Ward has run some high batting averages and respectables wRC+ figures in his career despite a complete lack of power thanks to his speed, which is his path toward success in the majors. This isn't just a Billy Hamilton situation, though; Ward significantly improved his stock last year when he started walking more and striking out less, implementing a contact-oriented approach that prioritizes him getting on base by any means necessary.
The real issue is that he's an outfielder, having minimal experience at second and third base in the minor leagues. Because of his speed, Ward has incredible range and can easily play all three outfield positions, but that logjam on the grass won't be any easier to solve when factoring in a newcomer. Perhaps the easiest way to solve this conundrum would be trading bench mainstay Masataka Yoshida, but his contract is going to be nearly impossible to trade mid-season.
Ward's emergence as a one-to-one replacement for Hamilton (perhaps with even more speed) is an exciting development this spring, even if he has to open the year in Triple-A Worcester. Come the playoffs, having someone this capable of wreaking havoc on the basepaths will be a boon for the Red Sox.