‘I think we’re gonna win big’: Red Sox fans excited for Opening Day

BOSTON (WLNE) — “We’re gonna win. I think we’re gonna win big. I think we’re gonna start the season off right,” said a Boston Red Sox fan who was waiting outside Fenway Park on Opening Day.

Sox Nation was ready early Thursday morning for another year of Red Sox baseball, looking to get off the right foot with a win at Fenway versus the AL East rival Baltimore Orioles.

“We got a couple good guys. I think we got a good shot at it and people are counting us out,” said another fan.

After a 2022 season that saw the Sox finish last place in the division, they’re now back and with a lot of new faces — signing Justin Turner from the Dodgers this winter, Masataka Yoshida coming to Boston from Japan, and the man getting the Opening Day nod — two-time Cy Young Award winner, Corey Kluber.

This is a photo of Fenway Park in Boston, Thursday, March 30, 2023. (WLNE)

“Losing Xander was tough. But moving Kike over there and filling out that center field spot with Duval, I think we’re looking good. As long as we stay healthy, I think we’ll be al right,” Brian Turner, a Red Sox fan.

Thursday morning, fans got to the park early, bundled up with temperatures expected to be in the upper 30s at first pitch.

“Whether it’s 40 degrees. Whether it’s 90 degrees, a day at Fenway is better than anything else I’d rather be doing,” said Brendan Hardy, Red Sox fan.

Hardy arrived at Fenway at about 7:30 a.m., where he found his friend Glenn Reynolds already sitting outside the Green Monster waiting for will call tickets since 6 a.m. — an annual tradition he started 32 years ago.

Boston Red Sox fans Glenn Reynolds (left) and Brendan Hardy (right) are seen holding a sign they made for Opening Day in Boston.” (WLNE)

“Met some friends from Northeastern and other colleges around here — BU. Alright, I’ll stick it out for a few years. I left like I was going to college. But I stuck it out with them,” said Reynolds.

Every year, you’ll find Reynolds sitting outside Fenway before the sun comes up. Over the years, his crew has gained some members and lost others.

For Hardy, this is now his fifth year being part of the Opening Day tradition.

Being part of this crew, being the first couple of guys in line, it’s awesome. You get to rekindle friendships that you see once a year,” said Hardy.

That connection is why Reynolds and Hardy say they pass up the chance to buy tickets online, like most have opted to start doing.

Instead, they prefer to sit outside in freezing cold temperatures sharing stories from over the years and catching up on each others lives and how they’ve been over the past year.

“Next thing I know, it’s 25 years. And here I am today with my pals always having a good time. Always enjoy Fenway Park. It’s one park that, I just love it. The people around here are wonderful and the Red Sox are gonna have a fine season as always,” said Reynolds.