It happens every spring. Someone, seemingly out of nowhere, emerges to snag a spot on the Red Sox' Opening Day roster.
Last year, pitcher Tyler Danish and outfielder Rob Refsnyder caught the eyes of the organization and though neither made the Opening Day roster initially, both were promoted to the big leagues just two weeks later.
This year? Coming off a last-place finish, the Red Sox figure to have plenty of roster churn. Already, the Sox have signed and/or traded for 11 players who are virtually guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster.
But there will likely be surprises, too -- a player who impresses in games and secures himself a backup spot as the team breaks camp.
Typically, non-roster invitees fall into one of two categories: prospects within the system who've earned a longer look, or minor league free agents, some of whom may have already played at the major league level.
Here's a look at a few players to keep an eye on:
1. INF/OF Ryan Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald's story was a fun and inspirational one last year at Worcester. After spending his first year playing independent ball, Fitzgerald worked his way up the organizational ladder and belted 16 homers with 72 RBI and became somewhat of a cult hero with the WooSox. Fitzgerald can play both infield and outfield, and with an unsettled middle infield and some question about the readiness of newcomer Adalberto Mondesi to start the year, Fitzgerald can be a temporary solution. He's played all over the infield and outfield and the versatility will only aid his cause. As an added bonus, he's a lefty hitter, which could come in handy to balance out the righthanded-hitting middle infielders (Kiké Hernandez and Christian Arroyo).
2. INF/OF Christian Koss
Acquired from the Colorado Rockies in a trade for pitcher Yoan Aybar in December of 2020, Koss hasn't played above Double-A yet. But he's 25, making him older than most players at that level and he played winter ball in Caguas, meaning Alex Cora almost certainly got a look at him. Like Fitzgerald, he's highly versatile, having played second, third and shortstop at Portland last year, along with a handful of games in the outfield. He continued that versatility in the Puerto Rico Winter League, too, getting playing time at all four infield spots and left field, too. He showed some pop at Double-A (44 extra-base hits) to go along with 16 stolen bases. Also like Fitzgerald, he could potentially benefit from Mondesi's uncertain physical status.
3. C Jorge Alfaro
For now, the catching duties will be split between Reese McGuire and Connor Wong. But as is the case during the regular season, a minor league catcher is only a foul tip away from an opportunity. But in addition to the possibility of an injury during Grapefruit League play (or simple drills), there's also the matter of Wong's experience. He's played just 33 games in the major leagues, and he's yet to demonstrate that he's fully capable of sharing the catching load over an entire season. Alfaro, meanwhile, has played six full seasons in the big leagues, and only last year, got half the playing time behind the plate for a playoff team (San Diego). And just a few years ago, he hit 19 homers as the No. 1 catcher for the Miami Marlins. So, Alfaro is experienced and throws well. If Wong stumbles, or either catcher is hurt, Alfaro is ready to step up and contribute.
4. LHP Ryan Sherriff
Sherriff's chances were decidedly better only a week ago, before the Sox obtained Richard Bleier from the Marlins, giving them a second lefty in the bullpen to pair with Joely Rodriguez. But a major league bullpen constantly churns, and it wouldn't take much for Sherriff to open some eyes in March and make the team for April. Sherriff spent time with the Tampa Bay Rays in both 2020 and 2021, so he's familiar with the American League East.
5. OF Greg Allen
A journeyman outfielder who has spent time with four different organizations (Cleveland, San Diego, Yankees, Pittsburgh), Allen has an interesting skill set. He's a switch-hitter, which can help a player's bid to grab a roster spot, and he's shown terrific speed in his career, with 26 steals in 28 tries at Triple A in 2021. With the rule changes, the stolen base is expected to be more of a weapon in 2023 and beyond, so Allen could be helped by that development.