The Boston Red Sox rely on a new-look bullpen in 2025.
Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin anchored the back end of the bullpen for the last two years. Both arms left in free agency and Boston retooled with capable veterans. Justin Slaten returns, Garrett Whitlock is back in his rightful multi-inning role and former All-Star closers Aroldis Chapman and Liam Hendriks are in the mix to take that job for the Red Sox.
All four of those arms hold major responsibilities in leverage spots this season for Alex Cora’s group and two of them made notable progress Wednesday in spring training.
Chapman, who took over the league 15 years ago by throwing 105 mph with the Cincinnati Reds, got up to 101 mph with a strikeout while Hendriks reached 96 mph, per MLB.com’s Ian Browne, entering his first healthy season back from Tommy John surgery and his first true season with the Red Sox. That’s solid progress for the Red Sox to see from the relievers in the Grapefruit League contest against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Hendriks seems to be the likely choice to be the set closer for the Red Sox and reaffirmed that goal after his outing.
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“I just want to be given an opportunity for it,” Hendriks told reporters, as seen on NESN. “If I win the job, I win the job. If I don’t win the job, I don’t win the job. It’s not gonna change how I go about pitching. … I just want to be wherever I can be to help this team win. We’ve got a great team in there. … I plan on winning the job.”
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