The Red Sox finished their 2024 season with an even 81-81 record, a fitting conclusion to an up-and-down year. Despite a strong first half, their performance took a significant dip after the All-Star break, largely due to a hot streak in June and July that fizzled out.
The team also faced challenges from key injuries, including the loss of Triston Casas for the majority of the summer. In response, the Red Sox brought in an unlikely hero, Dominic Smith, who won over fans and helped rally the team.
However, the failure of their trade deadline acquisitions contributed to their ultimate downfall. Crucial series losses to the Diamondbacks and Astros sealed their fate, knocking them out of playoff contention.
The 2024 season featured several standout performances for the Boston Red Sox. Center fielder Jarren Duran, who was coming off an improved yet injury-shortened 2023 season, was named the leadoff hitter and thrived in the role. He played 160 games, the most by a Red Sox player since Dustin Pedroia in 2013. Duran’s batting, baserunning, and fielding metrics consistently ranked above the 90th percentile for much of the season, with his baserunning being the best in all of baseball. Tiago Matos ’26 reflected on this showing: “Jarren Duran was dangerous in the box and on the bases and astonishing in center field.”
Other surprises came from David Hamilton, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Romy Gonzalez, all of whom exceeded expectations. Rafael Devers put together a strong first half, but a shoulder injury led to a steep drop-off in his second-half performance.
On the pitching side, Tanner Houck led the league in ERA through the All-Star break. Although he experienced some regression afterward, his overall performance suggests a bright future. Brayan Bello also had several strong outings, hinting at his potential to become a top-tier starter.
However, the bullpen struggled, and trade deadline acquisitions proved to be a net negative. One bright spot was rookie Justin Slaten, who showed promise as a future closer. Kutter Crawford, who had an average season as a starter, may also transition to the bullpen, adding depth to a pitching staff with strong potential moving forward.
The Red Sox have a promising future ahead. The current roster is filled with rising stars like Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, Ceddanne Rafaela, David Hamilton, Wilyer Abreu, and Jarren Duran, and established players like Rafael Devers. In the minors, the Red Sox boast one of the best farm systems in baseball, with the “big four” in Triple-A Worcester—Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel, Roman Anthony, and Kristian Campbell—on the cusp of becoming major league-ready. Cam Kelley ’26 believes that “their future over the next five years is very bright. With trade pieces like Lucas Giolito and Liam Hendriks returning from injury, the team will be successful within three years.”
The team has committed to a more aggressive approach in free agency, aiming to add a new ace to the rotation and bolster the bullpen. With a few key additions from the front office, the Red Sox could be back in the postseason, and possibly the World Series, as soon as next season.
