Red Sox Outfielders Could Surge in 2027 Fantasy Baseball

WHO:

MLB.com - Red Sox outfield prospect Jay Allen II is also Cincinnati’s No. 21 prospect; he was drafted 30th overall in 2021.

MLB.com - Boston’s No. 1 prospect Franklin Arias turns 21 next month.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Johan Oviedo is 28 and entering his final season of arbitration eligibility.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Owen Hull is 6-foot-4, weighs 215 pounds, and has the quickness to remain in center field.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Jack Winnay is a corner infielder from Newton, Massachusetts, who attended Belmont High and Wake Forest; he needs to improve his defensive range to avoid being limited to designated hitter.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Blake Wehunt is a 25-year-old, 6-foot-7, 240-pound right-handed pitcher drafted in the ninth round in 2023 out of Kennesaw State.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Kaleb LaFavor is a 6-foot-7, 195-pound left-handed pitcher from Iowa; scouting director Jake Bruml compared his potential to Jacob Misiorowski.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Owen Hull, the 67th overall pick in the draft, is a 22-year-old left-handed hitter from UNC and Boston’s No. 8 prospect.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias is the organization’s No. 1 prospect and a shortstop from Venezuela.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Franklin Primera, a 19-year-old catcher and Boston’s No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, hit .367/.499/.581 with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs across the Florida Complex League and Single-A Salem.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Jack Winnay, ranked No. 23, hit 17 home runs and posted a .405 on-base percentage in his first full professional season.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Blake Wehunt, ranked No. 16, had a 3.52 ERA at Double-A Portland and a 3.47 ERA at Triple-A Worcester.

MLB.com - Red Sox manager Chad Tracy’s projected starting rotation includes Payton Tolle, Ranger Suarez and Jake Bennett.

MLB.com - Ian Browne, who has covered the Red Sox for MLB.com since 2002, reported on four Boston players who could re-emerge: Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo and Kutter Crawford.

MLB.com - Casas is a left-handed-hitting first baseman; Boston’s first base is occupied by Willson Contreras.

MLB.com - Houck was a Red Sox All-Star starting pitcher in 2024. Oviedo is a 28-year-old pitcher entering his final season of arbitration eligibility. Crawford is a right-handed pitcher.

Razzball - The article is titled “Top 40 Outfielders for 2026 Fantasy Baseball, A Recap.” Its excerpt says the outlet had finished recapping its top 40 outfielders for 2026 fantasy baseball.

WHAT:

MLB.com - The Red Sox are seeking new first- and third-base coaches. Chad Epperson will manage Triple-A Worcester in 2027, with Iggy Suarez as bench coach; Pablo Cabrera will return to his role as Minor League defensive coordinator.

MLB.com - Jay Allen II batted .267 with an .802 OPS, 15 home runs, 51 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 113 games. He hit five home runs in 17 games in July and earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A Louisville.

MLB.com - Franklin Arias batted .323/.400/.557 with 28 doubles, 25 home runs and 91 RBIs in 117 games and 449 at-bats; he played his first 75 games at Double-A and final 42 at Triple-A.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Blake Wehunt recorded a 3.52 ERA at Double-A Portland and a 3.47 ERA at Triple-A Worcester; Boston projects him as a possible depth starting option in 2027.

MLB.com - Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias played his first 75 games at Double-A and his final 42 at Triple-A, producing similar results at both levels.

MLB.com - Franklin Primera hit 16 doubles in addition to his 13 home runs and 53 RBIs, with 267 at-bats across the Florida Complex League and Single-A Salem.

MLB.com - Jack Winnay hit 17 home runs in 345 at-bats while splitting time between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland.

MLB.com - Wehunt averaged about 94 mph on his fastball, with 6.8 feet of extension, and had a six-pitch mix: fastball, curve, slider, splitter, sweeper and sinker. He struck out 72 batters in 53⅔ innings at Portland and 32 in 46⅓ innings at Worcester.

MLB.com - LaFavor was a Day 2 draft target; Boston went under slot on earlier picks to secure him.

MLB.com - Hull drew 16 walks in 117 plate appearances during his Salem debut.

MLB.com - LaFavor’s signing was enabled by Boston going under slot on earlier picks. He said, “I just need to put my head down and work in the weight room.”

MLB.com - Hull hit .337/.436/.531 with 10 doubles, three home runs, 20 RBIs and 16 walks in 117 plate appearances in his professional debut with Single-A Salem.

MLB.com - Arias hit .323/.400/.557 with 28 doubles, 25 home runs and 91 RBIs in 117 games and 449 at-bats, splitting the season between Double-A and Triple-A.

MLB.com - Boston’s 2026 farm-system progress included three top-five prospects—Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon and Enddy Azocar—being traded to Baltimore for Adley Rutschman.

MLB.com - Red Sox outfield prospect Jay Allen II hit .267 with an .802 OPS, 15 home runs and 23 stolen bases over 113 games; he can play all three outfield positions.

MLB.com - Boston’s Triple-A season finale, which Kutter Crawford was lined up to pitch, was rained out.

MLB.com - Casas hit .311/.401/.585 with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs in 241 at-bats over the final three months of his 2023 rookie season. He hit six homers in 52 at-bats during a 14-game stretch in 2024, then tore cartilage in his rib cage in Pittsburgh. After returning in mid-August, he posted a .772 OPS and seven homers in 40 games.

MLB.com - Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon on May 2, 2025; that was his last organized game. During his attempted 2026 comeback, he sustained two additional injuries and had left wrist surgery on Aug. 6. Boston must decide whether to tender him a contract or let him become a free agent before the November 20 non-tender deadline. If retained and healthy, he could provide power at DH or serve as Minor League injury insurance.

MLB.com - Houck underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2025 after a poor start. He started Boston’s final regular-season game against the Cubs but was left off the Wild Card Series roster because the team considered his stuff inconsistent. With one year remaining before free agency, he could compete for a rotation spot if Sonny Gray leaves.

MLB.com - Oviedo was acquired from the Pirates for prospect Jhostynxon Garcia on Dec. 4. He lost the final rotation competition in Spring Training, made one bullpen appearance, then went down with a right flexor strain. He made one rehab appearance for Triple-A Worcester. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is expected to give him another chance in the rotation or bullpen.

MLB.com - Crawford led the American League with 33 starts and Boston with 183 2/3 innings in 2024, but did not pitch in a Major League game in the following two seasons because of right knee, wrist and elbow injuries. A bullpen role could offer a return path; he is also a non-tender candidate.

WHERE:

MLB.com - Crawford was scheduled to start the season finale for Triple-A Worcester.

MLB.com - Casas suffered his rib injury while playing in Pittsburgh. Boston’s Triple-A affiliate is Worcester.

MLB.com - Houck’s final regular-season start was against the Cubs.

WHY:

MLB.com - Boston’s outfield is thin heading into next season, and Allen could push for a promotion with a strong start at Louisville.

MLB.com - The Red Sox traded Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon and Enddy Azocar to Baltimore for Adley Rutschman at the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline, signaling a shift toward winning immediately; Boston was then swept by the Yankees in the two-game Wild Card Series.

MLB.com - Scouts believe Primera can remain a catcher as his career progresses; he was signed for a $10,000 bonus as part of Boston’s 2025 international class.

MLB.com - Arias’s path to Boston may be affected by veteran shortstop Trevor Story, who is under contract for one more season.

MLB.com - Ian Browne reported that Boston’s farm system could provide additional impact in 2027 from its most recent draft class.

MLB.com - Boston needs more home runs; a healthy Casas could provide additional power.

MLB.com - The Red Sox considered Houck’s pitching insufficiently consistent for the Wild Card Series roster after his return from surgery.

MLB.com - Crawford’s recent durability problems make a 2027 starting role seem unlikely, according to the article.

HOW:

MLB.com - Boston can retain Casas by tendering him a contract or allow him to become a free agent; it could also option him to the Minors.

MLB.com - Houck has the winter to continue rebuilding arm strength and could compete for a rotation opening if Gray departs.

Boston is seeking new first- and third-base coaches as it reshapes its staff, with Chad Epperson set to manage Triple-A Worcester in 2027. The organization also has a deep group of prospects, led by shortstop Franklin Arias, who hit .323 with 25 home runs and 91 RBIs across Double-A and Triple-A. Outfielder Jay Allen II hit 15 homers and stole 23 bases, while corner infielder Jack Winnay hit 17 home runs in his first full pro season. Boston is also weighing the futures of four players who could re-emerge: Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo and Kutter Crawford. Casas has been limited by serious injuries and faces a contract decision before the November 20 non-tender deadline. Houck is recovering from Tommy John surgery, while Oviedo and Crawford could seek roles in the rotation or bullpen. Worcester’s season finale, scheduled for Crawford to pitch, was rained out.