Monday was an important checkpoint in the spring for the Boston Red Sox as they start to make decisions with an eye toward opening day.
After the first three weeks of spring training games, it was time for the Red Sox to make their first round of roster cuts. No one lost their spot in the organization altogether, but several players who came into camp with hopes of sneaking onto the opening day roster saw that dream come to a close.
As the Red Sox announced on X, left-handed pitcher Jake Bennett was optioned to Triple-A Worcester, the first member of the 40-man roster to have his shot at breaking camp with the team taken away. Meanwhile, the Red Sox reassigned non-roster invitees Nate Baez, Ronald Rosario, Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris, Vinny Nittoli, Devin Sweet, and Jeremy Wu-Yelland to minor-league camp.
Bennett, who was acquired in a one-for-one trade that sent flamethrower Luis Perales to the Washington Nationals in December, has been a big story in camp, as he wowed teammates and fans early on with his impressive stuff, but has struggled with command of late. He'll be stretched out as a starter in the minors and could be a candidate for a call-up sometime late in the season.
Nittoli is the outlier from the group above, as he will almost certainly miss the entire season after it was reported last week that he is expected to undergo elbow surgery, either the standard Tommy John procedure or the internal brace variation.
Baez and Rosario are young catchers who weren't expected to seriously contend for opening day, but could be names to watch in the years to come. The rest were all pitchers, and in terms of 2026 impact, the lefty Wu-Yelland likely has the best odds at becoming a name Red Sox fans get to know.