AL contender gives new opportunity to Brewers' 2025 Opening Day third baseman

The 2025 Milwaukee Brewers did practically everything possible to make their fanbase forget the season's Opening Series. After opening the year with an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the mighty New York Yankees and their briefly controversial torpedo bats, the Brewers went on to have the best regular season in franchise history. From three winning streaks of eight games or more, including a franchise record-breaking 14 consecutive wins in early August, to a satisfying playoff series victory over their division rivals, the Chicago Cubs, in the NLDS, to incredible breakout seasons from Andrew Vaughn, Brice Turang, Quinn Priester, and many others, the Brewers made sure that their 2025 campaign wasn't defined by their brutal start.

As a result of the Brewers amnesia-inducing recovery following their 0-4 start to the 2025 season, it's possible that some of the early contributors who played necessary roles in Milwaukee's record-breaking season have slipped from fans' minds, including who was manning the hot corner for the Crew in Yankee Stadium on Opening Day.

The combination of a scorching hot Spring Training and the fact that the Brewers were facing a lefty, Carlos Rodón, on Opening Day in the Bronx, led Vinny Capra to earn the Opening Day third baseman job in Milwaukee. Capra, who had appeared in just 20 MLB games prior to the start of the 2025 season, cracked a solo shot off Rodón in the third inning, making him the first Brewer to go deep during the 2025 campaign.

However, after his Opening Day longball, things quickly turned sour for Capra. Manager Pat Murphy gave him plenty of opportunities to prove himself throughout the month of April and in the first week of May, but on May 9, with a slashline of .074/.120/.130, the Brewers designated Capra for assignment.

Vinny Capra agrees to minor league deal with Boston Red Sox for 2026 season

The Chicago White Sox claimed Capra off waivers following Milwaukee's DFA of the 28-year-old infielder. However, Capra appeared in just 23 games for Chicago's big-league squad, one game less than he played for the Brewers in 2025. Much of his time was spent playing for the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox' Triple-A affiliate, where he continued to post strong numbers just as he has throughout his minor league career.

When the season ended, Capra elected free agency, a luxury afforded to him due to the amount of time he has spent in professional baseball. On Thursday evening, Nick Deeds of MLB Trade Rumors reported that Capra has signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox for the 2026 season. Capra was immediately assigned to Boston's Triple-A roster, where he will join the Worcester Red Sox as valuable infield depth for the big league squad.

Despite his lack of success at the major league level in a rather small sample size, it's not difficult, based on Capra's minor league numbers, his solid and versatile glove, and his ability to impact the game on the basepaths, why teams continue to give him opportunities in MLB. If he can get his bat into "league average territory," Capra would immediately become a solid big leaguer, as the rest of his game raises his value considerably. Add to that the offensive prowess that Capra showed last Spring Training when everything clicked, and it makes his big league numbers easier to stomach for the Red Sox, who still have plenty to figure out in their infield this offseason.