Red Sox Outfielders Recognized In MLB Network’s Top 100 Player Rankings

Two more Boston Red Sox players made the latest batch of MLB Network’s Top 100 player rankings.

MLB Network already featured two Red Sox pitchers when including Aroldis Chapman (No. 84) and new signee Ranger Suárez (No. 79) in Wednesday’s reveal. A pair of outfielders joined them when MLB Network announced 20 more names on Thursday night.

Jarren Duran resides at No. 58, and Roman Anthony topped Thursday’s unveiling at No. 41.

Duran’s placement marks a precipitous fall from last year’s No. 27. While he didn’t fully replicate a breakout 2024, Duran still batted .256/.332/.442 with 16 home runs, 24 stolen bases and a 3.9 fWAR.

The 2024 All-Star ranked right behind fellow left fielders James Wood (No. 53), Jackson Chourio (No. 56) and Riley Greene (No. 57). Duran sits one spot above San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill, who slid from No. 24.

Meanwhile, MLB Network offered an aggressive endorsement of Anthony. The 21-year-old impressed the powers that be enough to top Byron Buxton, Cody Bellinger, George Springer and former Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers after a promising rookie campaign.

Anthony showcased superstar potential by batting .292/.396/.463 in 71 games before suffering an oblique strain. The Red Sox locked him down to an eight-year, $130 million extension in August.

MLB Network analyst Al Avila thought Anthony was too high given the limited MLB sample size, but former general manager Steve Phillips declared that Anthony is in “exactly the right spot.”

Phillips compared Anthony’s arrival to Juan Soto and predicted that he’ll play himself into the top 20 of next year’s rankings.