The trucks are packed, the games have been played, the roster decisions made.<\/p>\n
This past week, Grapefruit League action came to an end for the precursor to the 2026 Major League Baseball season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One of the two teams that call Fort Myers home, the Boston Red Sox, made its final moves to solidify its roster before they headed north to open the season against Cincinnati on Thursday afternoon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the spring finale against the other team prepping for the season in Fort Myers, the Minnesota Twins, newly acquired southpaw starter Ranger Suarez made his last tuneup start.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Part of the World Baseball Classic champion team in Venezuela, Suarez got roughed up a bit, allowing eight runs over 4.1 innings, striking our four.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suarez, who was an All-Star in 2024 with the Phillies and had a career year last season, has taken some extra time to ramp up with the WBC and will slide into the fifth spot in the rotation to start the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When asked how he feels about where he is heading into the regular season, Suarez said, \u201cGood. Obviously trying to get into a rhythm. The first inning was kind of \u2018meh,\u2019 and then I started to get into a rhythm. The results don\u2019t show that, but I feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n
While his usual fastball velocity was down on Tuesday, Suarez said he\u2019s not worried about what the radar gun says at this point in time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we want to throw hard, but the most important part is that I\u2019m healthy. I feel the velocity will come later on.\u201d<\/p>\n
One thing is for sure, Suarez is ready to compete in a true game atmosphere, especially following the hype of the WBC.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the season it\u2019s different,\u201d Suarez said. \u201cI\u2019m not saying that we don\u2019t prepare for games down here, but the regular season is different. I\u2019m ready to go, I\u2019m ready to throw in a Big League regular season game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suarez will slot into what is regarded as one of the top rotations baseball. Leading the way is Opening Day starter and last year\u2019s Cy Young runner-up, Garret Crochet. Rounding out the rotation is veteran Sonny Grey, youngster and WBC participant Brayan Bello, and 23-year-old Connelly Early, who won the last spot in the rotation this camp with impressive stuff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of Boston\u2019s starters, Suarez said, \u201cExcellent. The rotation that we have is one of the best. If we do what we\u2019re supposed to do, we\u2019re going to be very good. I think that\u2019s going to be the case this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking of that fifth spot in the rotation, which was up for grabs between Early, Johan Oviedo and Peyton Tolle, Sox Manager Alex Cora said it was the lefty\u2019s spring, combined with what he showed last season, that gave him the nod.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same thing to give me confidence to pitch him in Yankee Stadium in the Wild Card series,\u201d Cora said of why he chose Early. \u201cStuff-wise, he\u2019s really good. I think he\u2019s up to the challenge. He slows down the moments. He\u2019s getting better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Across five games and 17 innings during camp, Early struck out 16 and held a 1.59 ERA. He allowed just three earned runs in Grapefruit League action, posting a 0.94 WHIP.<\/p>\n
The No. 3 prospect in the Red Sox system started four games for the team last season, as well as that postseason start against New York. He surrendered just five earned runs across 19 1\/3 innings, striking out 29.<\/p>\n
Oviedo will come out of the bullpen to start the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere we\u2019re at rotation-wise right now, it makes sense to have him most likely piggyback somebody the first two times around, and then we\u2019ll reassess the situation,\u201d Cora said.<\/p>\n
As for the final position player slot for the Red Sox, it will be Andruw Monasterio departing Fort Myers with the club, with hopes the infielder can provide some production against left-handed pitching following the loss of Romy Gonzalez due to a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a good athlete. Versatile. A good at-bat against lefties,\u201d Cora said of Monasterio. \u201cLittle by little, we\u2019ll get him introduced to the outfield just in case, but we know [Isiah Kiner-Falefa] can do that. We don\u2019t have to push it. I think the first base thing is really good. Both of them have done an amazing job at first, so we\u2019re very comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reassigned to the Minor Leagues was WBC standout Nate Eaton. Connor Wong was also confirmed as the backup catcher to start the year with Mickey Gasper and Matt Thaiss also going to the minors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPosition player-wise, we\u2019re set,\u201d Cora said. \u201cWhere we\u2019re at with the outfielders, it makes sense to carry Andruw. There\u2019s comfort level with Connor. Obviously with the way we\u2019re going to play, having one of those weapons on the bench, we\u2019re probably going to be very aggressive pinch-hitting in certain situations. Having [Wong] behind the plate late in games if he doesn\u2019t start, or the other way around, is a must for me. I\u2019m very comfortable where we\u2019re at. We\u2019re going to be versatile. We\u2019re going to have some good weapons coming off the bench.\u201d<\/p>\n
A feel-good story to break camp was Rule 5 Draft pick Ryan Watson making the team.<\/p>\n
Watson will slot into the bullpen and serve as a multi-inning guy out of the \u2018pen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a guy that has a lot of upside,\u201d Cora said. \u201cHe\u2019s trending in the right direction. [On Sunday,] he pounded the strike zone for two innings. He\u2019s been doing that lately. He\u2019s a guy that we trust.\u201d<\/p>\n