While the numbers may not scream it, Roman Anthony is making a difference in the Boston Red Sox lineup. Still, one team insider wonders if front office missteps could force him back to Triple-A Worcester.
Appearing on the WEEI Boston sports radio show “Jones and Keefe,” long-time Boston writer and host of the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast Rob Bradford talked about the notable change in the atmosphere around the Red Sox in the short time that Anthony has been with the team. And it hasn’t been so much due to any tangible contributions from the 21-year-old rookie outfielder, who is 1-for-17 with a double and three RBIs in his first four games.
But Bradford said the long-awaited arrival of the top prospect in baseball has put a charge into the Boston clubhouse.
“I mean, you see the presence of the kid,” Bradford said. “I know he has one hit, but it just feels different in the middle of that lineup.”
Roman Anthony Puts Charge Into Red Sox Lineup
Anthony, who had been tearing the cover off the ball throughout the Boston farm system since he was drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft, finally made his debut on Monday, batting fifth and playing right field against Tampa Bay. Manager Alex Cora said the buzz among the players was much different than the normal rookie callup.
“Yeah, they’re excited,” Cora said. “They’re excited for the kid, excited for the club. And we just got to go out there and play baseball.”
However, Bradford suggested that the inaction of the Boston front office could force a quick and unsatisfying end to the party. Talking to WEEI’s Adam Jones and Rich Keefe, Bradford noted the circumstances that already kept Anthony out of the big leagues for longer than necessary have not been changed.
Lack of Roster Changes may Push Roman Anthony Back to Triple-A Next Week
Anthony was promoted after the Red Sox placed outfielder Wilyer Abreu on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain, temporarily breaking up the logjam that the team had long cited when defending its decision to keep Anthony with the WooSox. With reports indicating that Abreu is not expected to need more than the 10 days to recover, he could be back as early as Friday, which Bradford said means the Roman Anthony train “can all come to a screeching halt.”
“Nothing’s changed,” Bradford stressed. “Unless they made a trade, unless someone else gets hurt, whatever it is, nothing’s changed.
“They’ve landed in that same spot where they were before. That same spot where I said, ‘Hey, Red Sox, I’ll give you the solution. Move Ceddanne Rafaela into the infield, send Kristian Campbell to the minor leagues, and you have Roman Anthony.’ That’s my solution, but they’ve dug in on not doing that, and when Wilmer Abreu comes back, they’ll probably have the same exact situation.”
And from a public relations standpoint alone, Bradford warned that sending Anthony back down to Triple-A would not go well.
“There’s no easy answer to this, and I know that people will be twice as up in arms probably [by sending him down,] especially if he does anything, by the way, in the next few games,” Bradford said.
“If Roman Anthony socks a couple dingers, then people are going to be screaming and yelling, and rightfully so.”
