It’s that time of spring training where the games drag a bit, the season opener is still weeks away and several familiar faces are away from the team competing in the World Baseball Classic.
That means some new players in the Boston Red Sox camp are getting plenty of innings and at-bats.
With that in mind, we decided to take a look at some early standout performances from players not likely to crack the Opening Day roster, but who’ve put up a good showing early on and may impact the club at some point this season.
Tayron Guerrero, right-handed reliever
In a clubhouse that features three pitchers standing at 6-foot-6 in Garrett Crochet, Johan Oviedo and Payton Tolle, somehow they’re still looking up at one of their teammates. That would be Tayron Guerrero, a non-roster invitee who truly stands out — and stands tall, at 6-foot-8. The Red Sox signed the 35-year-old to a minor-league deal this offseason after he pitched in Japan last year and dominated in the Dominican Winter League this offseason, striking out nine in 10 1/3 innings.
This spring, he has pitched well in a small sample, with five scoreless innings across four appearances, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out five. His elite extension, thanks to his massive frame, makes his 98 mph average fastball appear even faster. A journeyman for much of his career, having last pitched in the majors in 2019 for the Miami Marlins, Guerrero has a chance to impact the Red Sox this season. He topped out at 100.6 mph this spring and, if he maintains form, could be a strong arm in Triple-A Worcester whom the Red Sox call up at some point this season.
Noah Song, right-handed reliever
The details of Song’s journey have been well-documented, but here’s a CliffsNotes version for those who’ve lost track: Song was drafted in the fourth round in 2019 out of the Naval Academy and joined the Navy that fall to fulfill a commitment for flight school. While he was in flight school, the Red Sox left him unprotected in the 2022 Rule 5 draft and the Philadelphia Phillies selected him. Song graduated from flight school in 2022 and submitted a waiver to be transferred to reserve duty. He was cleared in February 2023, shortly after the Rule 5 draft in December.
He battled a few injuries that spring, never made it to the big-league club with Philadelphia and the Phillies returned him to the Red Sox in late 2023, per Rule 5 Draft rules. Back with the Red Sox, Song began ramping up the following spring only to blow out his elbow, needing Tommy John surgery in 2024. He returned to the mound last year to begin his build-up.
It’s been a remarkable journey to this point, and now Song, 28, is one step from the majors. In returning to the mound from surgery, he steadily progressed through the system last year with stops at each level from the Florida Complex League to Triple-A Worcester. By the time he reached Worcester, it was clear he was tired from the most innings he’d pitched in his professional career, allowing eight runs in 4 2/3 innings. But his stamina throughout the season was promising, and he finished with 61 strikeouts across 55 innings.
As a non-roster invitee to camp this spring, Song has been solid through his first four outings (including an inning in the exhibition game against Northeastern) with 4 1/3 hitless innings, striking out four and walking two. His fastball is sitting 94-96 mph, and he’s been able to get swings and misses on the slider that was so enticing earlier in his career.
He’s not going to crack the Opening Day roster, but if he keeps putting up consistent numbers for Worcester, there’s a chance he’s called up this season.
Braiden Ward, outfielder
The Red Sox traded reliever Brennan Bernardino to the Colorado Rockies this offseason in exchange for Ward, who split time last year between Double A and Triple A, hitting .290 with 57 stolen bases in 97 games. Over 414 career minor-league games since being drafted in 2021, Ward has hit .275 with a .776 OPS.
The 27-year-old left-handed hitter has been tearing it up on the basepaths this spring, with 10 stolen bases in 11 games while going 9-for-20 (.450) at the plate. Ward’s elite speed replaces some of what was lost when the Red Sox traded David Hamilton to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the Caleb Durbin trade.
Ward has played all three outfield spots this camp. Though the Red Sox’s starting outfield is crowded, his speed is a real asset. He’s likely to spend much of the year in Triple A, but manager Alex Cora has already noted he’s a player to keep an eye on, particularly if the club is in a position late in the season where they could use some speed for close games down the stretch.
Andruw Monasterio, infielder
Monasterio doesn’t quite feel as under-the-radar anymore, given Cora has referenced him multiple times throughout camp as someone who could replace an injured Romy Gonzalez to start the year. Gonzalez is scheduled to have his shoulder reevaluated on Friday, but he likely will start the year on the injured list, opening a bench role on the team that Monasterio is making an effort to win.
The 28-year-old acquired in the Durbin trade isn’t quite as strong against lefties as Gonzalez, who posted a .978 OPS against southpaws in 143 plate appearances last year. But Monasterio still posted an .837 OPS in 50 plate appearances against left-handed pitching for the Brewers last year. Equally as important: Monasterio can play every infield position. So far this spring, he’s logged innings at first, third and short.
He’s also hitting well in a small sample, going 4-for-13 (.308) through six games with a double and a homer with just one strikeout in 16 plate appearances.
