The Red Sox have officially called up their top prospect, Roman Anthony, ahead of tonight’s series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. The excitement surrounding Anthony’s promotion is palpable, as he steps into a pivotal role during a critical stretch of the season.
In a twist of fate, Anthony didn’t board the bus for the WooSox’ road trip to Allentown, Pennsylvania. Instead, he packed his bags and drove directly to Boston, where he confirmed the news of his promotion just as he was leaving Polar Park. The young outfielder will don the number 48 and takes the spot vacated by Wilyer Abreu, who has landed on the 10-day injured list due to an oblique strain sustained over the weekend in New York. To make space for Anthony on the 40-man roster, Triple-A first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda has been designated for assignment.
Interesting enough, the Red Sox didn’t initially expect to move Anthony up today. However, as Abreu’s condition failed to improve, the team realized they needed to act swiftly. An earlier lineup had Ceddanne Rafaela moving to right field with Kristian Campbell in center, but plans changed, and now it’s Anthony who will take the field in right.
“This happened very fast. This was about Willy,” said manager Alex Cora, emphasizing that they didn’t want to be short-handed. “To do that over three or five days, it’s hard. This is about protecting Willy and having a complete roster. It just so happens Roman was the guy. He’s gonna contribute.”
The decision to promote Anthony was a clear-cut one for Cora. “We’re trying to win ballgames,” he said. “The kid has done an amazing job throughout player development getting ready for this moment. Obviously, not the way you want. Willy’s a great player, a great defender, a good at-bat. But he’ll be back. We’re excited.”
This marks a significant day for the organization, and even though the circumstances for his call-up aren’t ideal, Cora expressed confidence in using Anthony effectively while helping him navigate the adjustments that come with being a big leaguer. “He’s a mature kid who understands his craft and wants to get better,” Cora noted. While there are aspects to improve, the team believes in Anthony’s potential to thrive at this level.
At just 21 years old, Anthony is regarded as the consensus top prospect in baseball. The Florida native’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric since the Red Sox selected him with a $2.5 million signing bonus as a second-round compensation pick in 2022. His dominance in Worcester this season has been remarkable, boasting a .288 batting average with 10 home runs, 29 RBIs, and an impressive .913 OPS over 58 games. Fans have increasingly clamored for his arrival as Anthony has consistently torched Triple-A pitching, a hot bat that the big league club desperately needs amid offensive struggles.
Notably, Anthony is the last of Boston’s “Big Three” prospects to make his major league debut. He’ll share the field with both Campbell, who has been part of the team all season, and Marcelo Mayer, who debuted on May 24. Mayer, who shares a close friendship with Anthony, expressed his joy upon hearing the news.
“It has been a long time coming,” Meyer shared with enthusiasm in the home clubhouse. “It’s kind of crazy today’s the day we’re all going to share the field together in the big leagues. I’m super excited. I think we have a really good team, and he’s just another addition.”
Anthony’s promotion marks a milestone, as he becomes the youngest player to don a Red Sox uniform since Rafael Devers was called up at the age of 20 back in 2017. Questions remain about where Anthony will fit into the lineup, especially with Jarren Duran (left field), Rafaela (center), and Abreu (right field) currently established as the starting outfielders. However, the expectation is that Anthony will ultimately take over in left field as Duran moves to center, with Rafaela transitioning to a super-utility role. For now, though, he’ll be stationed in right.
“This was more about Willy,” Cora reiterated. “We talked about it last night, where he was, probably missing one day or two. But we cannot play short-handed for an extended period of time. This decision had to be made as an organization.”
Anthony has showcased his versatility this season with experience across different outfield positions—243 innings in left, 89 ⅓ in center, and just 36 in right. Cora clarified that the team aims to maintain their current alignment, trusting Anthony to handle the dimensions of the spacious right field at Fenway Park.
“Today, it made sense to play him in right field,” Cora explained. “We’ll make adjustments on the fly but we’ll play him.”
With Anthony’s promotion, the Red Sox are hoping to inject some much-needed energy into their roster, and fans can feel both the excitement and the weight of potential that this young talent brings to the team. The journey of Roman Anthony starts now, and it could be the spark that ignites their season.
