AC
Alex Cora
Manager — Boston Red Sox
With Boston: 2018–2019, 2021–Present · 8th Opening Day as Manager
Alex Cora is one of the most respected managers in baseball — a Puerto Rican-born former shortstop who turned a brilliant baseball mind into one of the game's best managerial careers. He played 14 seasons in the majors, most famously as the key architect of the Houston Astros' sign-stealing championship in 2017 as bench coach. He took over as Red Sox manager in 2018 and immediately won the World Series with a franchise-record 108-win team. After a one-year suspension related to the Astros scandal, he returned in 2021 and has guided Boston to the playoffs in 2025 and a vastly improved roster heading into 2026. Known for his player-first approach, sharp in-game management, and the deep trust he commands from his roster — particularly his Latin American players — Cora is entering 2026 with the most talented team he has managed since 2018. Many believe this year is a legitimate World Series contender under his watch.