Opening Day 2026: Fan Questions Answered About the Red Sox Boston Red Sox right fielder Roman Anthony (19) led off at the top of the order against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Boston Globe sports reporter Alex Speier hosted an Ask Me Anything session Thursday morning on Reddit focused on his coverage of the Red Sox and what to expect from the 2026 team. Speier is entering his 25th season covering the Red Sox, and has covered sports for the Globe since 2015. Below are some highlights from the AMA, which have been condensed and edited for clarity. Questions are in bold from Redditors who participated. Out of the new signings and promotions to the big-league roster, who do you think will have the biggest impact? What is your prediction for the team’s record this year? Speier highlighted Willson Contreras and Marcelo Mayer as the players with the most potential to impact the team’s performance this season. He noted that the 2025 struggles at first and second base were a major drag on the team’s results, and the reliability they can bring—Mayer defensively, Contreras in his all-around game—will be critical. Speier avoided making specific win predictions, emphasizing that the excitement of Opening Day lies in the uncertainty of the season ahead. Is Roman Anthony winning his first MVP this year, or does he have to wait until next year? Speier acknowledged the rapid rise in expectations for Anthony, calling it “mind-blowing” that a player with limited big-league experience is already generating MVP buzz. He praised the question’s humor but stressed that Anthony’s early-season performance is unlikely to sustain elite production.#boston_red_sox #roman_anthony #alex_speier #willson_contreras #marcelo_mayer
