Editor’s note: Leading up to Opening Day, our staff will share several predictions for the 2026 Red Sox season. In Part 3 of the season preview series, our three-person panel shared its boldest predictions for the upcoming campaign.
It’s officially prediction season with Opening Day just one week away. For the latest installment of our Red Sox season preview series, our staff got bold.
We went 2 for 3 in last year’s bold predictions, correctly predicting Boston to end its playoff drought and for three-plus Red Sox players to make the All-Star squad. This year’s bold predictions have a clear theme: young players blossoming into stars.
Here are our three-person panel’s bold Red Sox predictions for the 2026 season:
Justin Leger: Connelly Early is a Rookie of the Year finalist
Early shined in his first four MLB starts last season, posting a 2.33 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only four walks over 19.1 innings. Even if he isn’t in the starting rotation to begin the season, the prized left-handed prospect will play a key role for Boston in 2026.
Early’s success has continued in spring training, where he has amassed a 2.25 ERA in four games (12 IP). The soon-to-be 24-year-old projects as one of the best rookie pitchers in baseball next season, and he’ll earn national recognition as an American League Rookie of the Year finalist after earning a permanent spot in Boston’s rotation.
Nick Goss: Roman Anthony hits 40 home runs
The last Red Sox player to reach that milestone was J.D. Martinez in 2018. Before that, it was David Ortiz with 54 homers in 2006.
Anthony has the power required to hit 40. The key will be playing enough games to have a chance.
Darren Hartwell: Payton Tolle replaces Aroldis Chapman as the closer
Chapman was the best closer in baseball last season but just turned 38 years old, so we could easily see a regression coming. While Garrett Whitlock is the next-best pitcher in the bullpen, we could see Alex Cora keeping Whitlock in his setup man role and turning to Tolle, the colorful rookie who found success as a reliever last season.
Ian Cundall of SoxProspects.com talks about the top prospects in the Red Sox system, who all happen to be pitchers
