With just over two weeks until the Boston Red Sox open their 2025 season against the Texas Rangers, several position battles remain unsettled as the coaching staff finalizes its roster decisions.
However, the batting order is becoming clearer, as a few key hitters are locked into the top spots. On March 12, Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed fans’ expectations by announcing the team’s first three batters.
“If I can say the top three right now, it will most likely go Jarren (Duran), Raffy (Devers), and Alex (Bregman),” Cora told reporters.
The manager explained that batting Bregman third helps separate left-handed sluggers Devers and Triston Casas in the lineup. The Red Sox specifically targeted Bregman to add more right-handed power to their offense, and his exceptional track record at Fenway Park (.375/.490/.750 slash line, 1.240 OPS in 21 games) makes him an ideal fit for the No. 3 spot.
Alex Cora announces Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman will lead off Red Sox’s batting order
Duran has been a reliable leadoff hitter for the Red Sox over the past two seasons, and his breakout 2024 campaign (8.7 bWAR) solidifies his place atop the order. His elite speed (96th percentile) allows him to turn singles into doubles and doubles into triples, making him a constant threat on the basepaths. With Bregman and Devers hitting behind him, Duran’s run production could see a major boost—assuming Devers stays healthy.
Devers has yet to appear in a spring training game as he continues recovering from the shoulder injuries he played through in 2024. His Grapefruit League debut has been delayed multiple times, but he’s expected to take the field on March 15.
The Red Sox have not classified these delays as new injury concerns but rather as a timing issue and a preference for Devers to face big-league pitching. While many spring training games feature minor league or depth arms, Devers has been able to get work in against Boston’s top pitchers in simulated games at JetBlue Park. Still, fans are eager to see him in live game action.
A fully healthy Duran, Devers, and Bregman will be a dangerous trio for opposing pitchers. With additional offensive depth—including a recovered Trevor Story, a developing Ceddanne Rafaela, Masataka Yoshida, Triston Casas, and top prospects—Boston’s lineup has the potential to be one of the most formidable in the AL East.