Top Red Sox prospect Roman Anthony calls Boston a ‘fun place to play’ after getting criticized in viral clip
"I love the fact that Boston fans are always, even regardless of where your team is at or the record, they’re always passionate."
Roman Anthony has been widely praised since he’s emerged as one of the top prospects in baseball over the last couple of years, being ranked as one of the top two prospects in the game by most publications.
But this past week, Anthony might have gotten his first taste of what media criticism he could face when he eventually gets called up by the Red Sox. However, the outfielder doesn’t seem to be too concerned about whatever criticism could be thrown his way.
“I think they (the Red Sox) do a pretty good job here of kinda letting us know pretty early and taking us through everything and teaching us about what goes on in Boston. But I think that’s what makes it such a fun place to play — is that people care so much and that people are constantly talking,” Anthony told reporters, via MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “I know at least for myself, I love proving people wrong. I love feeding off of that. And I love the fact that Boston fans are always, even regardless of where your team is at or the record, they’re always passionate.”
In a clip that sparked a lot of social media engagement, 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Tony Massarotti raised concerns over Anthony’s potential as a fielder, saying he read from an unidentified scouting report that the prospect “should become an above average outfielder.”
“What do you mean, ‘Should?’ What does ‘should’ mean? ‘Should’ tells me that he’s not good and that he’s got to grow into it,” Massarotti said on his radio show, “Felger and Mazz.” “This is a guy who’s regarded as the No. 1 prospect in the game. How is a guy a No. 1 prospect in the game if his defense sucks? Because that’s how I read that.
“After watching him play the outfield, he doesn’t exactly read the ball off the bat like Ken Griffey Jr. He doesn’t. Here’s what I want to know: How come nobody ever tells me about the bad stuff?”
Massarotti later added that Anthony could project to become a designated hitter.
“How do I get excited about a prospect who’s a DH?” Massarotti asked.
Anthony, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, has played all over the outfield in his three seasons in the Red Sox’ minor league system. To Massarotti’s point, he hasn’t been highly-touted for his fielding. However, it doesn’t seem to be a major knock on him either.
“Anthony has mostly played center in the minors, but he’s not very rangy and he’s maybe an average runner, so he’s much more likely to end up in a corner, supplanted in center by someone with plus range,” The Athletic‘s Keith Law wrote, adding that Anthony could have “plus defense.”
“His instincts allow him to steal some bases and to get the job done in the center field, though he profiles better on a corner,” MLB.com added in its scouting report of Anthony. “He earns average-to-solid grades for his arm strength but recorded just two assists in 101 outfield starts in 2024.”
Of course, the big reason why Anthony has become a consensus top-two prospect in baseball is for approach and hitting at the plate. He hit .277 with 16 homers and .873 OPS over 94 games with Double-A Portland before hitting .344 with three homers and a .983 OPS in 35 games with Triple-A Worcester. In spring training, Anthony’s hit .333 with four RBIs and a .917 OPS in 16 plate appearances as he tries to make the big league roster.
If Anthony is named to the Opening Day squad, the 20-year-old Florida native will almost assuredly play in a spotlight he’s never played in before. But he said he’s ready for what’s to come.
“They’re always there and they hold us to a standard. And I love that,” Anthony said. “I think playing in Boston, you’re playing meaningful baseball 24/7. So just taking on challenges like that is something I’m super excited to be a part of and to learn about when I’m actually there.
“Obviously, I haven’t been there yet, so I can’t speak on it. But it’s something that I’m excited to take on.”
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