The Boston Red Sox are in the midst of a must-win stretch to keep their playoff hopes alive, but if you expand it, it's been a successful season on multiple fronts.

The Boston Red Sox enter play on Sunday at 81-68 and in a three-way tie for an American League wild card spot with the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners.

All three teams are two games ahead of the Texas Rangers, who are the first team out of the playoffs as of now. 

Boston hasn't made the playoffs since 2021 and is seeking its first World Series championship since 2018.

And while the immediate stress of the playoff race is the focal point for Boston, when you expand out, you can see that the season has been successful in a multitude of ways.

It's been a bounce back year for guys like Trevor Story and Lucas Giolito, and it's served as the debut season of young star Roman Anthony. The team also got contract extensions done with Anthony and Garrett Crochet, setting itself up well for the future.

And in a bit of a lesser note, the group has also made history in the batter's box and on the basepaths, as noted by @SoxNotes on social media:

This is the first time the Red Sox have ever featured 3 players with 15+ HR and 15+ steals.

Trevor Story

Ceddanne Rafaela

Jarren Duran

Trevor Story

Finally healthy after three injury-altered seasons in Boston, Story has been durable and dependable. He's played in 145 games, hitting .259 with 24 home runs, 27 doubles and 28 stolen bases. He has yet to be caught stealing, proving that he's one of the best baserunners in baseball.

He's got an opt-out at the end of the season, but it's unclear if he's going to take it in order to test the free agent market.

Ceddanne Rafaela

One of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, Rafaela has also made some notable strides with the bat this season. He's hitting .241 with 16 home runs and 19 stolen bases, however, his inability to walk (.287 on-base percentage), remains a source of frustration for fans. His OPS+ of 90 suggests he's still been a below-average offensive player, even with those gains.

Jarren Duran

The MVP of last year's All-Star Game, Duran is not having the MVP-caliber season he had in 2024, but he's still been very solid. Hitting .258 with 15 home runs and 23 steals, he's got an OPS+ of 114, suggesting he's been above average. He's under contract through 2028 and there will be much conversation about his long-term future this offseason.