Unexpected player predicted to steal Red Sox Opening Day roster spot from Andruw Monasterio

As spring training rolls on, the Boston Red Sox's opening day roster becomes clearer. The starting nine has been pretty much etched in stone since players arrived, with the exception of second and third base , and even those are starting to get chiseled. Who makes the bench has been the real topic of discussion.

During the offseason, the Red Sox cultivated real, major league-caliber depth in the infield. They signed veteran utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa, brought in Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler via trade, used the waiver wire to add Tsung-Che Cheng and bring back Mickey Gasper, and retained Nate Eaton and Nick Sogard. Boston went from David Hamilton and having to prematurely call up Marcelo Mayer to multiple players with quality MLB experience.

Halfway into spring, the bench picture is starting to shape up, and the Boston Herald's Mac Cerullo took a stab at predicting the entire 26-man Opening Day roster, with one real surprise. Cerullo predicted that Nate Eaton would be with the team in Cincinnati and not Monasterio.

Many have predicted that Monasterio would have the inside track to the Opening Day roster due to his similar strengths to the injured Romy Gonzalez. Before the news of Romy's injury, most predicted he'd be in a platoon with Mayer at the start of the season. Once it became clear that Gonzalez wasn't going to be ready for Opening Day, the assumption became that Monasterio would seamlessly slide into that spot. Cerullo disagrees, though.

Nate Eaton's longer tenure in Boston might be giving him an edge in the race for the Opening Day Roster

"The other spot remains Nate Eaton's to lose," Cerullo wrote. "Throughout the offseason, Red Sox officials repeatedly identified Eaton as someone who could potentially fill Rob Refsynder's old reserve role...the club will need a righty hitter who can play outfield as well."

In Cerullo's projection, the Sox carried IKF, Masataka Yoshida, Eaton, and a backup catcher as their four bench pieces.

Last season, Eaton had a strong showing despite a very small sample size of big league innings. The 29-year-old hit .296 with a .731 OPS across 41 games and 90 plate appearances. He spent time in all three outfield positions, providing zero outs above average in each spot, and at third base, with -2 outs above average. The Virginia native also had 98th percentile sprint speed last season.

The debate between Eaton and Monasterio becomes, would the Sox rather have two infielders or two outfielders on their bench? With Kiner-Falefa, Monasterio is slightly redundant, but IKF hits righties well, and Monasterio hits lefties well. If Eaton isn't on the roster, Yoshida will be the only outfield option late in games, and the organization has been extremely hesitant to play him in the field. Eaton also had reverse splits last year, but handled lefties enough, and having IKF platooning with Mayer doesn't make sense because neither is strong against lefties.

Whatever the decision is, a very solid MLB player will be starting their season in Worcester. It would come as a surprise to many if Monasterio is the one, but an argument can be made for either. One thing is certain, though, the Sox have higher quality depth than they've had in years.