Analysis: Jason’s Top 3 Dark Horse Candidates to make the opening day roster

 With spring training games just beginning, competitions for certain spots begin. Although there are projections on players who will make the roster, I believe there are always a few guys per year who have a case to be on that 26-man opening day roster. The following guys I am going to mention, in my opinion, have a real shot at making the opening day roster. 


Enmanuel Valdez


Why: The depth up the middle for the Red Sox is arguably the biggest hole of the team. With Adalberto Mondesi likely to start on the Injured List, the Red Sox have thin depth at the shortstop and second base. Kiké Hernandez is the projected starting shortstop, and Christian Arroyo is the projected second baseman. However, they lack major league experienced middle infielders on their 40-man roster. Enmanuel Valdez, who is having quite the spring training as we speak, has a bat that seems major league ready, according to some experts. In the minor leagues last season, Valdez hit .296/.376/.545 between AA and AAA. There is no question the kid can mash, but his big question mark comes on the defensive side. Valdez committed six errors in 85 games at second base last season, and history tells us that defense in the major leagues is much different than the minors. However, even with the question marks on defense, I believe that Valdez has a good chance to beat out Arroyo for a starting job. I have a hard time seeing Valdez serving a bench role since he is still a young prospect still in development, but he has the chance to shock many people. 


Raimel Tapia


Why: There was no question the overall outfield depth last year was very thin, with players like Jackie Bradley Jr. with his regressing glove-first play and Kiké Hernandez suffering an injury in early June that would sideline him for almost half the season. This resulted in the call-up of Jarren Duran, the every-other-day play from Rob Refsnyder, and the trade acquisition of rental Tommy Pham. The Red Sox needed that one player who provided depth for the outfield. Coming into this season, it is looking very similar to last year, with the outfield lacking speed and questions of health. Raimel Tapia has the chance to be the fourth outfielder on opening day because of his good defense and somewhat average bat. In 128 games with Toronto, he slashed .265/.292/.380. His defense from looking at his numbers is solid. The only thing keeping him from definitely making the opening day roster is the fact he bats left-handed. Since the Red Sox are so heavily left-handed, I could see him starting the year in AAA Worcester. However, do not sleep on him potentially making an impact in Spring Training that results in him being a role player on the bench in 2023. 


Bryan Mata


Why: MLB Pipeline recently came out with its top Red Sox prospects, and Mata found himself ranked 6th, which is also the highest pitching prospect in the Red Sox system. Undergoing Tommy-John surgery in April 2021, the multi-inning pitcher found himself figuring a couple things out in his rehab. He posted a 2.49 ERA in 83.0 innings pitched. The one thing with him that I am a little concerned with is his control, but if he can figure that out, he can be a dominant arm in the Red Sox bullpen, or even the back end of the rotation. The reason why he probably will not make the back end of the rotation is because the Red Sox already have so much depth for the back end of the rotation, like Josh Winckowski, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, and James Paxton. Mata would probably find himself serving as the long-reliever in the bullpen. Mata looked great in his first game of Spring Training, and if he can keep it up, he has a chance to excite a lot of people. 

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