Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu returns, David Hamilton separating from the pack, Yoshida throwing

After missing time the entire camp dealing with a gastrointestinal issue, Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu has been cleared for game action.

Abreu played in a minor league game Friday at Fenway South and will bat eighth and play right field on Saturday when Chris Sale and the Braves come to Fort Myers.

The Red Sox weren’t sure if Abreu would have enough time to be ready and make the Opening Day roster. Alex Cora sounded optimistic that Abreu could break camp.

“I think I was a little bit worried that the numbers weren’t going to get there sooner rather than later,” said Cora. “But these [numbers] are great news, and now we just go.”

Abreu has been able to do some baseball activities the last few weeks, allowing him to maintain his strength.

“We’ll see where it takes us,” added Cora. “But I’m confident that physically, he’s in a good spot. Honestly, he didn’t lose too much. I know it looks that way, but he feels stronger. The numbers back that up. So, now it’s just the reps, and at-bats-wise, defensively, he’s been doing that the whole week.”

The Venezuelan native heads into the 2025 season coming off a relatively productive rookie campaign. Defensively, he was superb, earning an American League Gold Glove in right field. He became the first Sox’ rookie to win a Gold Glove since Fred Lynn in 1975. Abreu was nine runs better than the average in right field, according to Statcast, helping him win the award.

Offensively he finished the year slashing .253/.333/.461 with 15 homers, 33 doubles, 58 RBI, 40 walks, eight stolen bases, and a .781 OPS in 132 games. One knock to his rookie season was Abreu’s struggles against southpaws; in 50 games, he slahsed .180/.254/.279 with a .533 OPS.

If Abreu is ready for Opening Day, it will slam the door on the idea of Trayce Thompson or Nate Eaton making the roster. Boston will carry outfielders Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder with Masataka Yoshidabeginning the year on the injured list. Let's not rule out Kristian Campbell being part of the Red Sox outfield mix. 

With Abreu’s inability to hit lefties, Refsnyder should see a platoon in right field.

DEVERS RETURNS

Another day, another Rafael Devers update.

The slugger will finally make his spring training debut on Saturday afternoon. He will bat second and be the designated hitter.

This comes two days after he participated in an intrasquad game where he faced Walker Buehler three times, striking out, lining out to center field, and then crushing a homer to center field. Devers also faced Zack Kelly and worked a walk.

PITCHERS PROGRESSING

Right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford is scheduled to throw bullpens on Tuesday and Friday next week.

Since the start of camp, Crawford has thrown a handful of bullpens, but only at low intensity to avoid re-aggravating the injury. Crawford has been resting and receiving treatment but will not be ready for the start of the season. He will need to build up in order to get ready for game action. If he sees no further setbacks, it’s possible he’ll miss just the month of April.

Brayan Bello will throw a bullpen on Saturday. The righty will also start the year on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation.

Lucas Giolito told reporters on Thursday that his left hamstring felt fine and that if it were up to him, he would be back on his regular throwing program.

“If that’s the case and he’s not ready, we truly believe that the way he reacted to it, he should be with us sooner rather than later,” Cora said. “Bello should be with us sooner or later. It’s one of those that we just have to be patient.”

SECOND BASE STILL UP FOR GRABS

David Hamilton continues to have a strong camp, homering in Thursday afternoon’s game against the Mets and also adding a double. During Friday’s game, Hamilton utilized his speed, dropping a bunt in his first at-bat and then stealing second base, later coming around to score.

Hamilton’s speed is a game changer and his most valuable weapon in his game.

“I think offensively, he found a few things last year in being more direct to the ball,” said Cora. “When Trevor [Story] got hurt, Hammy couldn’t slow it down at shortstop. We kind of slowed it down. There’s a few things that we believe he can do a little better. Range is great, but if you’re going to get to the ball, we have to turn them into outs. And that’s something that he’s working hard at, is being able to slow the game down at shortstop. But second base is still open, and he’s doing a good job for us.”

Could Hamilton become an impact player for the Red Sox? 

It’s possible, and with regular playing time, he could be a late bloomer, similar to Jarren Duran. In 98 games last season, he swiped 33 bases while posting a 1.7 WAR. That would rank him ninth in the American League among second basemen with at least 300 plate appearances.

His FanGraphs projections aren't very friendly to Hamilton, projecting him to post a 0.3 WAR. 

Vaughn Grissom started to show signs of life with this bat last week, going 5-for-11 with two doubles, two RBI, and two walks. Since that stretch, he’s cooled, going 1-for-6, but has walked twice.

I won’t put much stock into spring stats, but the eye test tells you Hamilton looks like a more dynamic player when in the lineup. Realistically, if Hamilton wins the starting second base job, Grissom could be his backup versus burning a minor league option. He only has one option remaining, and if he ends up with the WooSox, Grissom will see regular playing time.

The emergence of Campbell and Hamilton appears to be burying Grissom down on the depth chart. Right now Grissom offers protection around injuries, but from a long-term perspective, unless he tears the cover off the ball, he seems to be the odd man out. Best case scenario, if he improves his trade value and the Sox flip him for help around the deadline.

PUMP THE BRAKES ON TRAYCE

Every spring, one player seems to come out of nowhere and challenge for an Opening Day roster spot.

Thompson walked into camp in early February and has mashed at the plate during Grapefruit League play. Entering Friday, he’s owned a spring best with a 1.629 OPS, league-leading six homers, and tied with three others for the most RBI with 13.

Let’s be honest with each other, spring numbers really mean nothing.

Thompson’s epic surge at the plate has come at the expense of minor leaguers fighting for jobs. It’s typically not a recipe for success and won’t hold up for a full campaign. The 33-year-old is a career .212 hitter in 935 at-bats; translation: Thompson is a AAAA player that is having a cute spring.

His power off the bench is slightly tantalizing; he does carry a 40.3% hard-hit percentage and a 38.2% fly ball percentage, per FanGraphs. Boston preaches to their hitters to square up to the ball and put it into the air.

In reality, Thompson’s advanced metrics are like putting lipstick on a pig; serious playoff contenders typically don’t roster veterans who can barely hit above the Mendoza line.

Boston needing to potentially roster him is a byproduct of the front office failing to develop MLB-ready outfielders who can provide organizational depth.

Craig Breslow has done a tremendous job creating a pitching pipeline that is showing results at each level of the organization. He hasn’t put much into adding or developing positional players, particularly outfielders, that can provide organizational depth at the upper levels.

Thompson should be joined by Eaton at Polar Park; the two will fill the roles left by outfielders Mark Contreras and Dalton Guthrie.

ADDITIONAL SOX NOTES

Masataka Yoshida is starting to build out his throwing program; he’s throwing at 90 feet. The Japanese superstar is coming off offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder and was the Red Sox' primary designated hitter last season due to his injury.

Boston has been giving him reps as the designated hitter this spring. Once healthy, Yoshida should see time in the outfield this season.

During his rookie season, he was the team’s primary left fielder but only saw time at DH in 2024, outside of one inning in the outfield. The left-handed hitter played in 108 games; he hit .280 with 10 homers, 56 RBI, 21 doubles, and two stolen bases while recording a .764 OPS.

Connor Wong has been out sick the last few days and is returning to the Red Sox on Saturday. He’ll likely need a couple of days to ramp back up before playing in a game. Wong has also been hampered by a shoulder issue this spring.