The Roman Anthony Situation Is Getting Worse...

Joel Piton
Apr 18
3 min read

The Roman Anthony plot thickens, as the Red Sox are in a bigger bind than they could have ever anticipated when it comes to managing one of the hottest prospects in baseball and an increasingly crowded outfield. The 20-year-old Anthony has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in baseball, and for good reason. His combination of plate discipline, raw power, and consistent production at Triple-A had not only turned heads but forced conversations in Boston’s front office. The Red Sox are always focused on contending, and Anthony represents both the present and the future—a player who demands attention and whose timeline may be accelerating faster than anyone expected. Unfortunately for Boston, Anthony could be slipping out of reach. Why? Because, frankly——he's too good.

Anthony can’t stay with Triple-A much longer, because the skill gap is shrinking by the day—not between him and his peers, but between him and a major league roster. He isn't just holding is own with Triple - A, he’s dominating it. He’s showcasing elite speed, an eye plate that only seasoned veterans possess, and exit velocities that outpace some of Boston’s current big-league hitters. His 113.1 mph line-drive single last week marked the hardest-hit ball by any Red Sox player in either the majors or minors this season. He immediately followed that up with a grand slam and seven RBIs in a single game, bringing his OPS north of .941 through just 13 contests.

And it’s not just the box score—the metrics reveal a 38.7% All-Star caliber barrel rate. Only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani pulled these numbers in the majors last season. That kind of noise doesn't come lightly, and it’s getting harder by the day for the Red Sox to pretend they don’t hear it.

Unfortunately, the Red Sox can’t just call up Anthony and shove him into the lineup without sacrificing either playing time for a proven contributor or the elite defense that has finally stabilized the club’s run prevention. Jarren Duran’s range makes him almost untouchable, and Abreu entered the week pacing the team in OPS leaving no easy justification for sending him back to Worcester. That leaves Rafaela, who's been lagging a bit but his glove remains worthy of center field. Moving Rafaela into a larger role sounds logical on paper, yet it would mean surrendering nightly highlight‑reel coverage in Fenway. Another option—putting Duran at the center and planting Anthony in left—could be risky and weaken both spots. Factor in the southpaw Refsnyder and Yoshida’s eventual return from his injury and the lineup is complete.

Evidently, this is the burden that comes with clinching a No. 1 overall prospect. We see it in every sport—a difficulty balancing immense talent with imperfect timing. Roman Anthony has done everything in his power to make the call-up impossible to ignore, yet the Red Sox remain caught between preserving roster chemistry and unleashing a potential franchise cornerstone. Either way, the numbers, the metrics, and the eye test all point to one conclusion: Anthony is league ready. Breslow remains hesitant, but the fans are waiting. And if Boston doesn’t make a move soon, it could all come crashing down.

The clock is ticking, and the story is growing louder by the day. If Boston is serious about contending now and building something sustainable for the future, they can’t afford to let the moment pass. Whether it’s next week or next month, a call-up feels inevitable.