One Part of the Boston Red Sox Offseason Plan Already Paying Massive Dividends
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. Wilyer Abreu lays out to keep this game scoreless!
pic. twitter. com/zr7BiBvpz4 — MLB (@MLB) May 6, 2026 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.