The Boston Red Sox are bringing baseball’s best prospect to the majors. The Red Sox have promoted outfielder Roman Anthony just hours ahead of Monday night’s game versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Anthony is in the lineup, batting fifth and playing right field, when Boston takes on Shane Baz. (In a corresponding move, Wilyer Abreu has landed on the injured list.)
Anthony, 21, has spent the year pulverizing Triple-A pitching. He entered Monday batting .288/.423/.491 with 10 home runs and nearly as many walks (51) as strikeouts (56). As such, he’s vindicated CBS Sports’ decision to rank him as the No. 1 prospect entering the season. Here’s what we wrote at the time:
Anthony has a lot working in his favor. He won’t celebrate his 21st birthday until the summer, yet he’s already authored an impressive 35-game stretch in Triple-A, during which he recorded a .983 OPS and a walk for every strikeout. His advanced metrics, including his 90th percentile exit velocity and his in-zone contact percentage, line up with those posted by James Wood and Junior Caminero; his chase rate, meanwhile, was superior to both. (Wood and Caminero subsequently hit well in the majors.) If there’s an area where Anthony could obviously stand to improve, it has to be with respect to pulling the ball in the air. He has immense raw strength, the kind that could eventually result in 30-plus homers annually; it’s eyebrow-raising, then, that he pulled just 4% of his Triple-A fly balls (the MLB average last season was over 9%). This ranking is a bet on Anthony’s youth and talent allowing him to figure out that component over the coming years. Even without it, he’s a high-quality prospect nearing arrival.
Just what else do you need to know about Anthony’s game and how he fits into the Red Sox lineup? Glad you asked. Below are three major points.
1. Massive strength, yet real feel for hitting
If you know nothing else about Anthony, you probably know that he has big-time power upside.
To wit, Anthony’s average exit velocity in Triple-A was 95 mph. He cleared the 110 mph mark on 13 occasions, including a May 24 home run that saw him top out at 116 mph. For perspective, that would place Anthony with one of the 16 highest maximum exit velocities in the majors this season, alongside notable names like Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber.
Anthony isn’t just a dead-pull hitter, either. Of his 10 home runs, only one was a true pull job. Four others went out to right-center while the other five were either to left or left-center. Don’t be surprised, then, if he finds himself taking advantage of the Green Monster on a regular basis.
When Anthony hits the ball hard — and mind you, he cleared 95 mph on 58% of his batted balls — he has an average launch angle of 9.4 degrees. In other words, that means his best contact comes on a line-drive trajectory, which bodes well for his chances of hitting for average in addition to threatening 30-plus home runs every season. Some players with similar marks in the majors include Fernando Tatis Jr., Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero.
2. Patient, bordering on passive approach
In addition to Anthony’s impressive feel for loud contact, he employs a very patient approach that should enable him to work counts and draw walks.
Coming into Monday, Anthony swung at just 35.6% of the pitches he had seen this season. The average among qualified MLB hitters is 47%, and only one player offered at a lower percentage of pitches than Anthony did: New York Mets star Juan Soto.
Naturally, Anthony found himself with a positive chase rate, too, expanding his zone just 18.3% of the time. That percentage is comparable to injured Red Sox teammate Alex Bregman, whose 18.6% chase rate ranks as the eighth best among qualified players.
Clearly Anthony is comfortable working deep counts. He does whiff a little more often than the average hitter (including on 46% of the swings he took against changeups), however, and that opens him up to strikeouts. Anthony K’d only 21% of the time this season in Triple-A, an improvement over the 23.5% mark he posted last year across multiple levels.
It’s to be seen where Anthony’s strikeout rate falls in the majors, though it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he ends up closer to 25% as he adjusts to the new caliber of competition.
3. Long-term outfield alignment remains unclear
The biggest question facing (and delaying) Anthony’s arrival was where he would play on the big-league club.
The Red Sox resisted the urge to move Anthony to first base when Triston Casas went down with a season-ending injury. Yet Boston also hadn’t cleared space in an outfield that already featured Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu in the corners and Ceddanne Rafaela in center. Anthony’s pathway to a big-league roster spot hinged on an injury, trade, or Rafaela demotion.
Clearly an injury (Abreu) won out. It’s to be seen now what the Red Sox do when Abreu is ready to return. Do they make a trade involving Duran, Abreu, or Rafaela? Do they demote Anthony (if he scuffles) or Rafaela (if Anthony excels)? Or do they attempt to juggle having more talented outfielders than lineup slots?
That’s to be determined at a later date. For now, it’s fine to sit back and enjoy the arrival of one of the game’s best young players.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Defending champion Stallions’ abrupt exit tops storylines from UFL playoffs
Eric Williams NFL Reporter <!--> All good things must inevitably come to an end, and that's never been truer for the Birmingham Stallions. After three consecutive spring football championships, Skip Holtz's squad is out of the running for the 2025 UFL title after falling 44-29 to the Michigan Panthers in the USFL Conference Championship Game at Protective Stadium on Sunday. "It’s hard to lose, but it’s with great respect that I say congratulations to Michigan," Holtz said. "It’s with great pride that I say that I have really enjoyed coaching this football team and [watching] what this football team has been able to accomplish."Sunday's win marked the first time in eight meetings that Panthers head coach Mike Nolan earned a win in a head-to-head matchup with Holtz. Even though his team got the win, Nolan said things are far from finished. […]
Kirk Cousins expected to show up for Falcons minicamp despite desire to be traded, per reports
Kirk Cousins is expected to show up on Tuesday for the Atlanta Falcons' mandatory minicamp after not taking part in OTAs, according to multiple reports. Cousins, who did take part in Atlanta's voluntary workouts in April, would still prefer to be traded to a team where he can start.To this point, Cousins' time in Atlanta can best be summarized as odd. The Falcons, shortly after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal, shocked everyone when they then used a first round pick to select fellow quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who replaced Cousins in the starting lineup in Week 15 of the 2024 season. With Penix now entrenched as the starter, Cousins reportedly wants to be traded. Atlanta, however, has apparently been bullish when it comes to its asking price for Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler with 163 career starts under his belt. The […]
Edmundo decreta futuro do Santos no Brasileirão após contratação de Alexandre Mattos: “Vai cair de verdade”
Alexandre Mattos, novo diretor de futebol do Santos (Raul Baretta/ Santos FC) Edmundo não admira os últimos trabalhos de Alexandre Mattos no futebol brasileiro. Na visão do ex-camisa 10 do Vasco, o antigo diretor esportivo do clube carioca não fez um trabalho coerente, já que cerca de R$ 120 milhões foram gastos em 100 dias, mas nem todos os jogadores contratados fizeram jus ao investimento. Após passar pelo Cruzeiro, Alexandre Mattos é o novo executivo de futebol do Santos. Pessimista com o modo que o Peixe será administrado, Edmundo considera que o time de Neymar e companhia corre um sério risco de rebaixamento no Brasileirão não só através do desempenho irregular nos pontos corridos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O Vasco talvez não esteja entre os oito melhores do Brasil, como disse o presidente, mas está entre as cinco ou seis maiores folhas […]
FAMU AD arrested, accused of stealing $24K from former job
Florida A&M's new Vice President and Director of Athletics Angela Suggs speaks at an introductory press conference Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 Florida A&M athletic director Angela Suggs was arrested Monday on two felony counts related to putting $24,000 in personal expenses on a corporate credit card at her previous job. Suggs, 55, is charged with grand theft and scheme to defraud, as well as four misdemeanor counts of false claims on travel vouchers. She turned herself in to authorities Monday at the Leon County (Fla.) Detention Facility. Suggs posted a $13,500 bond and was released Monday afternoon. Florida A&M hired Suggs as its new athletic director on a three-year, $750,000 contract just nine months ago. "While the matter is unrelated to her duties as an employee at FAMU, we are monitoring the situation and will respond in the future as […]
House v. NCAA settlement: Commissioners confident in ability to enforce NIL rules
Michael Cohen College Football and College Basketball Writer <!--> Three days after the approved multibillion-dollar legal settlement forever changed the landscape of collegiate athletics, ushering in a bold new world of revenue sharing between schools and athletes, a handful of the industry’s power brokers discussed the seismic paradigm shift on a virtual news conference.And while they were short on details regarding the implementation and enforcement of new NIL rules overseen by the College Sports Commission, a freshly formed regulatory body created in response to the House v. NCAA lawsuit, all five conference commissioners spoke enthusiastically about the redirected path of collegiate athletics toward modernization and what they hope will be a much-needed dose of industry-wide stability. "The decision on Friday is a significant step forward toward building long-term stability for college sports while protecting the system from bad actors seeking to […]
Palmeiras e Flamengo têm menos de 1% de chance de vencer o Mundial; PSG é favorito
Estêvão disputa bola em jogo contra o Flamengo (César Greco - Ag. Palmeiras) Palmeiras e Flamengo estão muito distantes do título da Copa do Mundo de Clubes e possuem menos de 1% de chance de vencer o torneio, segundo avaliação da Opta, que é especializada em estatísticas do futebol. O PSG, atual campeão da Champions League, é o grande favorito para faturar também a taça da inédita competição da Fifa. Botafogo e Fluminense, os outros dois brasileiros do Mundial, estão entre os times que têm zero chances de conquistar o troféu, assim como Ulsan HD, Pachuca, Urawa Reds, Espérance, Auckland City, Wydad AC e Al-Ain. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE O domínio total é dos europeus, que ocupam as 11 primeiras posições; veja o top-15 e a porcentagem de chances das equipes: 1- PSG (18,5%)2- Manchester City (17,8%)3- Bayern de Munique (12,3%)4- Inter […]
Related
Defending champion Stallions’ abrupt exit tops storylines from UFL playoffs
Eric Williams NFL Reporter <!--> All good things must inevitably come to an end, and that's never been truer for the Birmingham Stallions. After three consecutive spring football championships, Skip Holtz's squad is out of the running for the 2025 UFL title after falling 44-29 to the Michigan Panthers in the USFL Conference Championship Game at Protective Stadium on Sunday. "It’s hard to lose, but it’s with great respect that I say congratulations to Michigan," Holtz said. "It’s with great pride that I say that I have really enjoyed coaching this football team and [watching] what this football team has been able to accomplish."Sunday's win marked the first time in eight meetings that Panthers head coach Mike Nolan earned a win in a head-to-head matchup with Holtz. Even though his team got the win, Nolan said things are far from finished. […]
Kirk Cousins expected to show up for Falcons minicamp despite desire to be traded, per reports
Kirk Cousins is expected to show up on Tuesday for the Atlanta Falcons' mandatory minicamp after not taking part in OTAs, according to multiple reports. Cousins, who did take part in Atlanta's voluntary workouts in April, would still prefer to be traded to a team where he can start.To this point, Cousins' time in Atlanta can best be summarized as odd. The Falcons, shortly after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal, shocked everyone when they then used a first round pick to select fellow quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who replaced Cousins in the starting lineup in Week 15 of the 2024 season. With Penix now entrenched as the starter, Cousins reportedly wants to be traded. Atlanta, however, has apparently been bullish when it comes to its asking price for Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler with 163 career starts under his belt. The […]
Edmundo decreta futuro do Santos no Brasileirão após contratação de Alexandre Mattos: “Vai cair de verdade”
Alexandre Mattos, novo diretor de futebol do Santos (Raul Baretta/ Santos FC) Edmundo não admira os últimos trabalhos de Alexandre Mattos no futebol brasileiro. Na visão do ex-camisa 10 do Vasco, o antigo diretor esportivo do clube carioca não fez um trabalho coerente, já que cerca de R$ 120 milhões foram gastos em 100 dias, mas nem todos os jogadores contratados fizeram jus ao investimento. Após passar pelo Cruzeiro, Alexandre Mattos é o novo executivo de futebol do Santos. Pessimista com o modo que o Peixe será administrado, Edmundo considera que o time de Neymar e companhia corre um sério risco de rebaixamento no Brasileirão não só através do desempenho irregular nos pontos corridos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O Vasco talvez não esteja entre os oito melhores do Brasil, como disse o presidente, mas está entre as cinco ou seis maiores folhas […]
FAMU AD arrested, accused of stealing $24K from former job
Florida A&M's new Vice President and Director of Athletics Angela Suggs speaks at an introductory press conference Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 Florida A&M athletic director Angela Suggs was arrested Monday on two felony counts related to putting $24,000 in personal expenses on a corporate credit card at her previous job. Suggs, 55, is charged with grand theft and scheme to defraud, as well as four misdemeanor counts of false claims on travel vouchers. She turned herself in to authorities Monday at the Leon County (Fla.) Detention Facility. Suggs posted a $13,500 bond and was released Monday afternoon. Florida A&M hired Suggs as its new athletic director on a three-year, $750,000 contract just nine months ago. "While the matter is unrelated to her duties as an employee at FAMU, we are monitoring the situation and will respond in the future as […]
House v. NCAA settlement: Commissioners confident in ability to enforce NIL rules
Michael Cohen College Football and College Basketball Writer <!--> Three days after the approved multibillion-dollar legal settlement forever changed the landscape of collegiate athletics, ushering in a bold new world of revenue sharing between schools and athletes, a handful of the industry’s power brokers discussed the seismic paradigm shift on a virtual news conference.And while they were short on details regarding the implementation and enforcement of new NIL rules overseen by the College Sports Commission, a freshly formed regulatory body created in response to the House v. NCAA lawsuit, all five conference commissioners spoke enthusiastically about the redirected path of collegiate athletics toward modernization and what they hope will be a much-needed dose of industry-wide stability. "The decision on Friday is a significant step forward toward building long-term stability for college sports while protecting the system from bad actors seeking to […]
Palmeiras e Flamengo têm menos de 1% de chance de vencer o Mundial; PSG é favorito
Estêvão disputa bola em jogo contra o Flamengo (César Greco - Ag. Palmeiras) Palmeiras e Flamengo estão muito distantes do título da Copa do Mundo de Clubes e possuem menos de 1% de chance de vencer o torneio, segundo avaliação da Opta, que é especializada em estatísticas do futebol. O PSG, atual campeão da Champions League, é o grande favorito para faturar também a taça da inédita competição da Fifa. Botafogo e Fluminense, os outros dois brasileiros do Mundial, estão entre os times que têm zero chances de conquistar o troféu, assim como Ulsan HD, Pachuca, Urawa Reds, Espérance, Auckland City, Wydad AC e Al-Ain. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE O domínio total é dos europeus, que ocupam as 11 primeiras posições; veja o top-15 e a porcentagem de chances das equipes: 1- PSG (18,5%)2- Manchester City (17,8%)3- Bayern de Munique (12,3%)4- Inter […]
Be the first to leave a comment