When the Red Sox open the 2026 season in Cincinnati, Roman Anthony will step into the batter’s box as Boston’s leadoff hitter.
Anthony, 21, is set to be the focal point of the lineup and will serve as the tone-setter to open the season. The young outfielder moved into the leadoff spot over the final 21 games last year before an oblique injury on Sept. 2 cut his season short.
In that stretch, Anthony went 37-for-110 (.336) with a .439/.564/1.003 slash line, launching six home runs with five doubles, one triple, 17 RBI, and 26 runs scored. In 27 plate appearances leading off games, he hit 8-for-25 (.320) with two home runs, one walk, and one hit-by-pitch.
Alex Cora is opting for Anthony over Jarren Duran, who is expected to hit lower in the order.
“George Springer, Mookie Betts — they’ve done it before,” Cora told reporters, referencing power hitters who’ve thrived in the leadoff role. “Kyle Schwarber, too. It can be 1-0 very quick, or it’s a quality at-bat.”
Anthony’s rapid ascent has been undeniable. Despite playing just 71 games, he finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting, earned a spot on Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster, and was ranked by MLB Network as the second-best left fielder entering 2026.
Cora has now revealed two lineup anchors in Anthony at the top and Willson Contrerasin the cleanup spot.
“I know Willson (Contreras, acquired last month in a trade with St. Louis) will probably hit fourth. I know that one,” Cora said at Fenway Fest.
Roman Anthony DESTROYS a home run off of Paul Skenes 😮 pic.twitter.com/WkyKHlngCJ— MLB (@MLB) August 30, 2025
That alignment could push Trevor Story into the No. 2 spot, with Wilyer Abreu and Duran interchangeable in the three-hole. Caleb Durbin projects to bat sixth, while Marcelo Mayer — if he breaks camp with the team — could slot in seventh. Carlos Narváez and Ceddanne Rafaelawould round out the order.
The announcement marks a shift from Cora’s tone just a month ago at Fenway Fest, when he was noncommittal about who would lead off.
“I’m not there yet, to be honest,” Cora said in January. “Usually by this point I have a pretty good idea of what we’re going to do. But honestly, I have no idea. I think we have to wait and see what the roster is going to look like. In a few positions, there are going to be battles. That’s something that’s going to dictate what we’re going to do.
“For the first time in years, I don’t know how we’re going to do it.”
Is Marcelo Mayer a Lock For Opening Day?
The Red Sox open Grapefruit League play Saturday afternoon, giving players a clear runway to stake their claim for a spot on the 2026 Opening Day roster.
One notable name without a guaranteed job is Mayer. The 23-year-old is in the mix to start at either second or third base, but if he’s going to break camp with Boston, improvement at the plate will be key.
“He wasn’t great offensively last year. He’ll be the first one to tell you that,” Cora said Friday prior to the game with Northeastern University. “Defensively, he was excellent. Base-running-wise, he’s really good. But offensively, there’s more. We know that, but he has to show us that he can handle this.”
In 44 games (136 plate appearances) last season, Mayer hit .228 with a .674 OPS, four home runs, and 28 RBI. He struck out 41 times, walked eight, and didn’t record a stolen base. Defensively, he committed just two errors — one at shortstop and one at third base.
Mayer is not participating in the World Baseball Classic, giving him valuable spring at-bats for Cora and the front office to evaluate the young infielder.
Marcelo Mayer spoke this afternoon and didn’t have much insight into his potential defensive home: “I don’t know. AC made it clear that I'm still looking for a job. So wherever it is they need me to play, that’s what I’m going to do.” - via @IanMBrowne Also, Mayer doesn’t… pic.twitter.com/0SV8ODi833— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) February 20, 2026
He made his MLB debut after being called up in May, but saw his rookie season cut short by a wrist injury in late July. The injury required surgery and sidelined him for the remainder of the year. It was a frustratingly familiar development — Mayer’s 2022–24 minor league seasons were also shortened by upper-body injuries.
Health may ultimately dictate his 2026 outlook. He enters camp fully cleared following wrist surgery and focused on earning a spot on the 26-man roster.
Mayer took reps at third base Friday for the first time this spring. Durbin has handled most of the work at the hot corner but missed Friday’s session due to an emergency root canal. Last week, Cora said he wanted to quickly determine how Mayer and Durbin would be deployed defensively this spring, particularly to allow Story to build chemistry with his potential double-play partner at second base. And if Cora truly wants to see more offensively from Mayer before handing him a starting infield role, it would be contradictory to slot him at second base in Boston if there’s a real possibility he opens the season in Triple-A.
Kristian Campbell Path to Playing Time
Red Sox outfielder Kristian Campbelllooks comfortable in the outfield this spring and should have ample opportunity to earn an Opening Day roster spot with several players departing for the World Baseball Classic.
Campbell entered last spring battling for the starting second base job. He broke camp with the team and signed an eight-year, $60 million extension in April, but was later optioned back to the minors.
This offseason, Campbell adjusted his offensive approach. He lowered his hands to better handle pitches low and inside, and his swing now features less pre-pitch movement, allowing him to get to the ball more quickly.
“If we get this (the offense) back, we can find at-bats,” manager Cora said earlier in camp.
Campbell showed signs of progress Friday, going 1-for-2 with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in Boston’s 18-3 win over Northeastern at JetBlue Park.
Cora liked what he saw from Campbell on Friday afternoon.
And KC brings him in for the first run of 2026! 👏 Already doing damage with that new stance 👀 https://t.co/KX82hPc8G3 pic.twitter.com/f28xM148pu— NESN (@NESN) February 20, 2026
“Situational hitting — something that we’ve been preaching,” Cora said. “He did a good job hitting the ball in the air twice and cashing in.”
Defensively, Campbell struggled at second base last season, posting minus-16 Defensive Runs Saved across 471 2/3 innings. The Red Sox believe his athleticism is better suited for the outfield, where he started in center field against Northeastern.
“Especially because I’ve been working with the outfielders every day,” he said. “That’s my group. When I look at the depth chart, my name is with the outfielders. So I definitely feel like an outfielder. Last year I felt more like a utility guy — kind of both.”
He also said the swing changes have made him more comfortable this spring.
“I use an analogy all the time — like going into college from high school,” Campbell said. “You don’t really know anyone, and you’ve got to get used to people and coaches. There’s a lot going on at once. It was the same thing last year coming to big league camp — not being familiar with everybody. Getting to know your teammates and coaches all at once can be tough, especially with so many people around.
“People are different in different ways. I’m more on the quiet side, so it takes me a second to get used to people sometimes.”
