Many familiar faces remain on the roster from last season, including designated hitter and World Series MVP David Ortiz, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, outfielder Shane Victorino, starting pitchers Jon Lester, John Lackey, and Clay Buchholz, and closer Koji Uehara. Another familiar face who returns as a starter will be shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who is the youngest player to open the season at that position for the Red Sox since Everett Scott in 1914, according to Gorden Edes at ESPNBoston.com.

Some of the new faces include veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski, outfielder Grady Sizemore, and reliever Edward Mujica. In what was a relatively quiet spring, Sizemore was the big story; returning to baseball after being limited to 112 games between 2010-2011 and no games over the past two season, he outperformed expectations and displaced Jackie Bradley, the expected starting center fielder, from the major league roster.

Here is the complete Opening Day roster for Boston:

Pitchers (12)
Burke Badenhop, Clay Buchholz, Chris Capuano, Felix Doubront, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Andrew Miller, Edward Mujica, Jake Peavy, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara, and Brandon Workman

Catchers (2)
A.J. Pierzynski and David Ross

Infielders (5)
Xander Bogaerts, Jonathan Herrera, Will Middlebrooks, Mike Napoli, and Dustin Pedroia

Outfielders (5)
Mike Carp, Jonny Gomes, Daniel Nava, Grady Sizemore, and Shane Victorino

Designated Hitter (1)
David Ortiz

Pitchers Craig Breslow and Steven Wright will begin the season on the disabled list.

The 2013 squad features many new faces, including starting pitcher Ryan Dempster, closer Joel Hanrahan, first baseman Mike Napoli, who will be making the transition from catcher for the Sox, and outfielders Jonny Gomes and Shane Victorino. Another new face is rookie Jackie Bradley, Jr., who impressed coaches and fans alike this spring and, with the absence of David Ortiz due to injury, has been given the opportunity to start the season on the 25-man roster, having never played higher than Double-A in his brief minor league career.

Of course, several familiar faces remain, including pitchers Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, and southpaw Jon Lester, who will square off against CC Sabathia at 1:05 PM this afternoon, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, third baseman Will Middlebrooks, and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

Former Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell, who piloted the rival Toronto Blue Jays over the past two seasons, takes over for the departed Bobby Valentine as manager.

Here is the complete Opening Day roster for Boston (asterisk denotes today’s starters):

Pitchers (12)
Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, Clay Buchholz, Ryan Dempster, Felix Doubront, Joel Hanrahan, John Lackey, Jon Lester*, Andrew Miller, Clayton Mortensen, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara

Catchers (2)
David Ross, Jarrod Saltalamacchia*

Infielders (6)
Mike Carp, Pedro Ciriaco, Jose Iglesias*, Will Middlebrooks*, Mike Napoli*, Dustin Pedroia*

Outfielders (5)
Jackie Bradley*, Jacoby Ellsbury*, Jonny Gomes*, Daniel Nava, Shane Victorino*

On the disabled list to begin the season are outfielder Ryan Kalish (right shoulder surgery), shortstop Stephen Drew (concussion), designated hitter David Ortiz (right heel inflammation), and pitchers Craig Breslow (left shoulder tendinitis) and Franklin Morales (back).  Breslow, Morales, and Ortiz begin the season on the 15-day DL, while Drew is on the 7-day DL and Kalish is on the 60-day DL.

Play ball!