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Alex Cora Makes $20,000 Pledge For Red Sox Lineup In 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
One of Alex Cora's Boston Red Sox hitters can help raise money for a good cause this season.
Projection systems are skeptical of Boston's power progress, as neither Steamer nor ZiPs forecasts a single Red Sox player to hit 20 home runs in 2026. Cora disagreed, and the manager will write a sizable check if someone proves those models wrong.
Cora vowed Thursday on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" to donate $20,000 to the Jimmy Fund if a Red Sox player reaches 20 home runs this season. He fully expects someone to achieve that goal.
"That's how sure (I am) that we're gonna have power," Cora said.
Trevor Story led the Red Sox with 25 home runs last season, and Wilyer Abreu delivered 22 in 115 games. Nobody else offered 20, but Cora's lineup has plenty of other candidates.
Roman Anthony has a full season to tap into his power potential. Willson Contreras has hit at least 20 homers in four of the last five seasons, and Jarren Duran slid to 16 after belting 21 long balls in a breakout 2024. Ceddanne Rafaela isn't too far away after tallying 15 and 16 in the past two years.
Triston Casas and Marcelo Mayer also have the power ceiling if they receive enough playing time.
"We might not have two guys hitting 40 (home runs), but there's a lot of guys that are gonna hit 20," Cora said. "I know the projections are the projections. I do believe we have guys that are gonna hit 20 home runs, and we're gonna be in a good spot."
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