The Red Sox have several men who can be breakout candidates for the 2025 season. However, there are three serious breakout candidates on their roster this year that can make a big difference going deep into the season. These three candidates are not only difference makers, but ones that can make the Red Sox more intimidating. Hopefully, This can increase Boston’s playoff chances and get them into October again.
Triston Casas
Some have already written him off. But they tend to forget that Triston Casas was red-hot to start AND end the 2024 regular season. Some even wanted him traded this offseason, but those have been squashed. With Triston becoming one of the strongest power hitters at Fenway Park, it is no surprise that this 25-year-old is a potential 40-home run hitter. In this case, it’s very realistic that he’ll be a breakout candidate this year. When he has those said hot streaks and gets consistent, he’ll be one of the best power hitters in baseball. He’ll be up there with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Freddie Freeman, and Matt Olson. Casas is just that good.
He showed promise in 2023, hitting 24 home runs with an OPS+ of 129. The first baseman was supposed to improve last year, but he got hit with a pitch to the ribs and suffered a torn cartilage in his left side. He missed most of the season, only playing 63 games. However, in that short sample size, he hit 13 home runs. He just hit his first Spring Training home run, a three-run shot to tie the game at three against the Twins. If this is the start of his torrid pace, just take this as a warning and proceed with caution.
Brayan Bello
Bello struggled last year, but he is weight-lifted now, with the Red Sox acquiring Crochet and Buehler. He can ease his way back into the starting rotation when he’s ready as he’s recovering from a sore shoulder. Regardless, he’s a perfect breakout candidate this year for the Red Sox in 2025. When he comes back, presumably in early April, the strikeout pitcher will start racking up some more come 2025. Last year, albeit having a struggling season, struck out 153 batters in his 30 appearances. Going into his fourth season at just 25 years old, Bello is also projected to be a top breakout candidate.
Walker Buehler
Saving the best for last, Walker Buehler is the biggest breakout candidate for the Red Sox in 2025. GM Craig Breslow signed him to a one-year, $21 million deal based on his outstanding career before going under the knife in 2022 to get Tommy John Surgery. Recovering from the surgery since late August of 2022, he also missed all of the 2023 season. He came back in 2024, had some hip problems that affected his throwing, and was put back on the IR in June. He didn’t come back until August.
However, the 2024 postseason was a different Walker Buehler. Not different, but back to the same old Buehler that everybody loved. Take away one game (Game 3 of the NLDS vs. the Padres), and he was arguably LA’s best pitcher. Most notably, he pitched the biggest game of his life in Game 5 of the World Series. Not only was it his best performance, but he closed out the series that same game, striking out Verdugo to clinch the Dodgers’ 8th ring. If the Red Sox get THAT Walker Buehler, nobody’s going to argue about that one-year prove-it deal as they would have themselves a steal.
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