Sea Dogs Announce Opening Roster

Portland's minor league baseball team reveals starting lineup for 2026 season.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:06am

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The Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, have announced their opening day roster for the 2026 season. The roster features a mix of top prospects and veteran players looking to make a return to the major leagues.

Why it matters

The Sea Dogs are an important part of the Red Sox farm system, serving as a key development ground for future MLB talent. The team's opening day roster provides insight into the current state of the Red Sox minor league pipeline and which players may be on the cusp of reaching the big leagues.

The details

The Sea Dogs' 2026 opening day roster includes several highly touted Red Sox prospects, including outfielder Franklin Arias, who hit .278 with a .723 OPS across three minor league levels last season. Also featured are veteran infielder Javier Hernandez and right-handed pitcher Ethan Winters, both of whom have previous MLB experience and will look to use the Sea Dogs as a springboard back to the majors.

  • The Sea Dogs' 2026 season begins on April 3, 2026.

The players

Franklin Arias

A top outfield prospect in the Red Sox farm system who hit .278 with a .723 OPS across three minor league levels in 2025.

Javier Hernandez

A veteran infielder with previous MLB experience who will look to use the Sea Dogs as a path back to the major leagues.

Ethan Winters

A right-handed pitcher with prior MLB experience who will aim to impress with the Sea Dogs and earn a call-up to Boston.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited about the talent and experience on this year's Sea Dogs roster. This group has the potential to make a real impact, both for us and potentially the major league club down the road.”

— Corey Wimberly, Sea Dogs Manager

What’s next

The Sea Dogs will open their season on April 3 at home against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. All eyes will be on the team's top prospects like Franklin Arias to see how they perform at the Double-A level and potentially earn a promotion to the major leagues.

The takeaway

The Sea Dogs' 2026 opening day roster features a mix of promising young talent and veteran players looking to revive their MLB careers, showcasing the depth of the Red Sox minor league system and the team's commitment to developing future big league contributors.