The Red Sox are entering 2026 coming off a lot of highs. Some lows, but a lot of really exciting performances, including by many, many outfielders. Like those playing center field. With one player in particular expected to claim the vast majority of the playing time.
The Starter: Ceddanne “Nuf Cedd” Rafaela
Ok, this isn’t quite true. But Ceddanne Rafaela is not only the best center fielder on the Red Sox but in all of baseball. Gold Glove defense, walkoff hits. Playing with intensity. He does it all.
In 2025 he had his breakout — with some
qualifiers. At the plate he hit .249./295/.414 with 16 home runs and 20 stolen bases overall. Of course the season looked pretty different depending on when you were tuning in. Over the first half the triple slash was .271/.314/.483. In the second half it fell to .218/.268/.319. It was, in a word, brutal. Alex Bregman disappeared, first base turned into a zero, Roman Anthony got hurt, and Nuf Cedd fell into a slump or regressed to the mean. Probably more of the former but maybe some of the latter. His batting average on balls in play went from .303 to .271.
One thing in his favor is, as Yoda said, there was another. Pete Crow-Armstrong on the Chicago Cubs put up a .247/5.287/.481 line with 31 homers and 35 steals. His first half (.265/.302/.544) vs second half (.216/.262/.372) also showed a tale of two seasons. Similar hitters in some regards. They swing. They chase. They can hit the ball well when they make contact. And no one is giving up on PCA.
It might turn out that Rafaela isn’t as a good a player as his National League counterpart. But when he gives the team a hot stretch with the bat while catching everything in site, you can live with a little less thump during a slump. Preferably we won’t see quite as much of a drop-off as in 2025, though.
The Bench: Jarren Duran
Wait that can’t be right. No, that’s right.
Jarren Duran went from an 8.7 bWAR season in 2024 to “just” 4.7 in 2025 while still putting up a .256/.332/.442 line. He still hit 41 doubles (against 48), 16 home runs (21), and stole 24 bases (34). Oh, and he also hit 13 triples (14), leading the league for the second straight year.
Duran spent most of 2025 in left field but is likely to open 2026 in the left field and DH mix. With an embarrassment of riches in the outfield including Rafaela, Roman Anthony, and Wilyer Abreu, Duran is on the one team where he doesn’t immediately have a defensive home. On almost any other team in baseball he’d be in center field. And because of his difficulties facing left-handed pitching (.277/.363/.488 against righties, .211/.260/.340 against lefties) he’s not really set up for a platoon either. With Alex Cora explicitly saying his Gold Glovers, Rafaela and Abreu, will be in the outfield, that leaves Duran in Rio limbo.
Minor League Depth
With both Jarren Duran and Roman Anthony available and the prospects who might have taken over gone, we’re looking at Nate Eaton, maybe? As recently as 2023 Isiah Kiner-Falefa played 40 games in center. Somehow one of the most important positions on the defensive spectrum is stacked with talent in Boston.
FanGraphs Projections
FGDC, the FanGraphs Depth Charts projections put Nuf Cedd at .261/.303/.428 with 18 homers. Yes, famously no Red Sox are projected for more than 20 home runs in 2026. Duran is projected for .259/.326/.441 with 16 homers. With those two at the top of the center field heap, Alex Cora will have an easy time making his lineups.
Divisional Ranking
First. Rafaela is the best in the division, the American League, and MLB. If Jarren Duran or Roman Anthony are playing in center you’re probably still looking at the second-best in the division. Assuming no trades or major injuries, this position is one of if not the biggest strengths in Boston.
