The Red Sox improved slightly in 2024, going 81-81. It was the first non-losing season since 2021, but it could have been much better if not for a post-All Star Break slide. The team was built around a young core who simply seemed to wear down as the season went on. Injuries took a huge toll on the team, which certainly didn't help, and some of the players brought in, failed to make an impact
Devers put together another fantastic season at the plate. It is still hard to believe this was the last full season of him in Boston. He was an All Star for the third time as he hit .272/.354/.516 and led the team with 28 home runs and 83 RBIs. He was among the league leaders in on-base percentage, slugging and doubles (34). He continued to have a difficult time defensively at third base, but his hitting made up for it.
JARREN DURAN
2024 was the year of Jarren Duran for the Red Sox. The speedy outfielder played in 160 games (and would have played in all 162 if not for a brief suspension which I won't get into). He led the team with 8.7 bWAR and hit .285/.342/.492 with 21 home runs, 75 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. He led the league in doubles (48) and triples (14) while notching 191 hits and 111 runs scored. He was an All Star for the first time, winning MVP honors and finished eighth in the MVP race.
TANNER HOUCK
Boston's third All Star in 2024 was former first-round pick Houck, who was electrifying in the first half of the season. Unfortunately, he was not able to sustain that success throughout the season. Houck led the league in shutouts and had a record of 9-10 with a team-leading 3.12 ERA. In 178.2 innings pitched, he struck out 154 batters while walking just 48. His home runs allowed per nine innings also led the league.
CONNOR WONG
Despite some significant defensive struggles, Wong had a very nice season in 2024. He stumbled down the stretch as the workload behind the plate wore him down, but he ended up the season with a slash line of .280/.333/.425, not bad numbers for a catcher. He also hit 13 home runs, drove in 52 runs and stole eight bases. He was among the league leaders in fielding percentage, runners caught stealing and assists. It did look like he could be a starter for a long time to come.
BRAYAN BELLO
Bello came into the season looking like a breakthrough candidate, but just could not seem to get on track. He seemed to struggle with his command at times and would get frustrated. Despite that, he led the team in wins (14-8 record). His ERA was high (4.49), but he struck out 153 batters in 162.1 innings and walked 64. He seemed to get better down the stretch and built on that going into 2025.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
KENLEY JANSEN
The closer was the oldest regular player on the team at 36 years old, but still had some life left in his arm. He continued to build on his potential Hall of Fame career, going 4-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 54 games pitched. In 54.2 innings, he struck out 62 batters while walking 20 and notched 27 saves. Jansen had some minor injuries and shut down toward the end of the season when it was clear the Red Sox were not going to be in the postseason, which angered some.
KUTTER CRAWFORD
The third of three starters to be developed by the Red Sox to start 30 or more games in 2024, which is the first time that has happened in a very long time, Crawford led the league in losses (9-16 record), but actually had a decent season. He also led the league in games started (33) and had a 4.36 ERA, throwing 183.2 innings while striking out a team high 175 and walking 51. He also led the team with a 1.122 WHIP.
NICK PIVETTA
Pivetta always felt like a pitcher close to a breakout season. Even though it did not happen in 2024, he still put up some impressive numbers. He did not lead the team in strikeouts, but he did lead in strikeouts per nine innings as he punched out 172 in just 145.2 innings pitched and also only walked 31 batters. He had a record of 6-12 and had a 4.14 ERA. Unfortunately, this was his last season in Boston and he finally had that breakout season this year in San Diego.
FAVORITE ACQUISITION
TYLER O'NEILL
The Cardinals make a lot of silly trades, and this was no different as they sent O'Neill to Boston for Nick Robertson and Victor Santos, neither of whom did anything for St. Louis. O'Neill crushed 31 home runs in 2024 and had a line of .241/.336/.511. Injuries plagued him, but he found Fenway to his liking. He didn't stay in Boston as the team had too many outfielders, but he became another One-Year Wonder right-fielder. His biggest moment was homering on Opening Day for the fifth straight season.
FAVORITE MID-SEASON ACQUISITION
DANNY JANSEN
There is not really much to choose from in this category. Jansen was acquired in order spell Connor Wong behind the plate as well as for his ability to hit lefties. The Red Sox gave up several prospects that would have needed protection from the Rule 5 Draft. Unfortunately, Jansen hit just .188/.323/.300 with three home runs and six RBIs in 30 games. His biggest moment was appearing in a game that had been suspended by rain a couple months earlier against his old team, in which he had been in the lineup, making him the first player to appear for both teams in the same game.
FAVORITE ROOKIES
WILYER ABREU
Picking a favorite rookie was a much bigger competition. Abreu wins on the strength of the fact that he was the only one of these three players to receive Rookie of the Year consideration (he finished sixth, but should have been higher). Abreu, acquired in the Christian Vazquez trade, appeared in 132 games and hit .253/.322/.459 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs. He also stole eight bases and hit 33 doubles. Abreu won the Gold Glove as well.
CEDDANNE RAFAELA
A slump in the second half dropped Rafaela from consideration for the Rookie of the Year vote. He basically split the season between shortstop (82 games) and center field (87 games), while also appearing at second base, third base and right field. He was terrific in center, but did not do quite as well at shortstop, which kept him from winning the multi-position Gold Glove. He hit .246/.274/.390 with 15 home runs, 75 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. He also had 23 doubles and five triples and 134 hits (fourth on the team).
DAVID HAMILTON
Hamilton was the big prospect acquired in the deal that sent Hunter Renfroe to the Brewers and returned Jackie Bradley Jr. to Boston. He started the 2024 season very rough and struggled mightily at shortstop. He started playing much better once he was moved to second base and ended up second on the team in stolen bases (33), which would have been more had he not gone down with an injury late in the season. Hamilton hit .248/.303/.395 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
TREVOR STORY
It was yet another injury-plagued season for Story in 2024. He suffered a dislocated shoulder diving for a ground ball early in the season and only appeared in 26 games. He had yet to appear in 100 games in the first three seasons of his Red Sox tenure at this point. Story hit .255/.340/.394 with two home runs, ten RBIs and six stolen bases. So, he hit well when he was on the field, that just was not often enough.
TRISTON CASAS
Casas also had a season marred by injury as a strained rib limited him to just 63 games played. He was impressive at the plate when he was healthy. He hit .241/.337/.462 with 13 home runs and 32 RBIs in his second season. His biggest moment was a three-homer game late in the season. Casas's health has become a real concern with penciling his name into the lineup going forward.
VAUGHN GRISSOM
Grissom was supposed to be the second-baseman in 2024, but injuries ended up limiting him to 31 games played. He was bad when he was in the lineup, hitting just .190/.246/.219 with just three extra base hits (all doubles), six RBIs and two stolen bases. As bad as all that is, the fact that he was the entire package the Red Sox received for Chris Sale made it that much worse as Sale had a return-to-form and finally won a Cy Young Award.
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