Opening Day 2025 is nearly here, and the Boston Red Sox are approaching the new season with one of the best on-paper starting rotations in the Majors. Alex Cora's club already boasted the likes of Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, and Lucas Giolito after last season, but the group was taken to another level with offseason additions that include Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler.
Unfortunately, the Red Sox won't be starting the 2025 campaign with a healthy rotation or bullpen. Crawford, Bello, and Giolito are all sidelined with injuries that could keep them off the mound until mid-April or sometime in May.
That's without mentioning how LHP Patrick Sandoval is currently on the 60-day injured list as he recovers from a UCL injury, opening the door for bubble pitchers to step up and temporarily occupy one of the now-vacant spots.
Although there's still a week left in training for any pitchers to impress Cora, one hurler's journey ended on Friday with a surprisingly bad roster move.
Red Sox Make Huge Mistake by Leaving Michael Fulmer Off Opening Day Roster
Audacy Sports' Rob Bradford is reporting that veteran RHP Michael Fulmer won't be making the Red Sox's Opening Day roster. As a result, the former All-Star righty will be beginning the new season in the minors.
Michael Fulmer being sent down. Reminder, he does not have an opt-out
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) March 21, 2025
Fulmer, 32, signed a two-year minor-league contract with the Red Sox in February 2024, looking to make an MLB comeback from UCL surgery. The former NL Rookie of the Year didn't end up making a single big-league appearance, though, missing all of last season as his recovery continued.
Fast forward to the current spring training, and Fulmer looks like he's returned to his pre-UCL surgery days. The Oklahoma City, OK native dominated opposing batters across five spring appearances (11 1/3 innings), striking out 12 batters and issuing three walks while only giving up one earned run on 10 hits — good for a 0.79 ERA.
Spring training success doesn't necessarily translate to regular-season results, but it's hard to look at Fulmer's numbers and not view him as a big-league pitcher. Whether it's as a starter or reliever (90 starts in 262 career appearances), the former 2011 first-rounder has more than proved that he deserves a spot in the Red Sox's roster.
Hopefully, this isn't the last of Fulmer that Red Sox fans have seen in the Majors. A strong start with Triple-A Worcester could see the 6-foot-3 righty back in Cora's plans soon, potentially playing a role in Boston's return to the postseason.
Speaking of which, the Red Sox will head into Opening Day with -144 odds to qualify for the 2025 MLB postseason on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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