In a season where not much has gone right for the Boston Red Sox, they have at least fixed a problem that had plagued the franchise for years.
BOSTON-- For years, the Boston Red Sox featured one of the sloppiest defenses in all of baseball, finishing in the top two in errors committed in each of the last three seasons. As the Red Sox struck out on all of the top bats on the free agent market, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow's attention shifted towards run prevention, adding starter Ranger Suarez and third baseman Caleb Durbin. Boston's shift towards run prevention hasn't delivered the success Breslow was hoping for, but it has turned Boston into one of the best defensive teams in baseball.
Entering Friday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Red Sox ranked as the best defensive team in baseball by defensive runs saved (29) and fielding run value (17), and second in outs above average (16), trailing only the Chicago Cubs.
What led to the turnaround?
The Red Sox defensive turnaround is, of course, thanks in part to an outfield that already featured two of the best defenders in baseball. Right fielder Wilyer Abreu has won the Gold Glove in both of his major league seasons. Centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela took home the Gold Glove in center and was a finalist for the Platinum Glove in 2025.
Abreu and Rafaela are both off to fantastic starts in the field, with Abreu ranking in the top 10 in both OAA and DRS among all outfielders, while Rafaela is not far behind, ranking in the top 15 in OAA.
The strong outfield defense is not thanks to those two alone; whether it be Jarren Duran or Roman Anthony in left, both have been incredible defensively. Duran ranks in the top 10 in both DRS and OAA among qualified outfielders. After struggling with accurate throws early in the season, the 21-year-old Anthony's DRS has suffered, but he has accumulated an OAA of 6 in 133.1 innings.
Where Breslow truly excelled in the offseason was in adding elite defenders to the infield. Despite third baseman Caleb Durbin's struggles at the plate, he has been one of the best defenders at the position in the sport, leading all third basemen in DRS at seven.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the season for Boston has been Willson Contreras' excellent defensive play at first base. Contreras leads all first basemen in OAA and is tied for second in DRS, a welcome change for a Red Sox team that has seen first base become a black hole in recent years.
The Red Sox are 16-22 and in last place in the American League East.
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