Roman Anthony’s plan for 2025 is clear: ‘Be a big-leaguer’
"We're so close to Boston, it feels like you're right there."
WORCESTER — Roman Anthony didn’t mince words on Thursday when asked of his goals ahead of a new baseball season.
“Be a big leaguer — as fast as I can,” the Red Sox’s top prospect said at the Worcester Red Sox’s Media Day at Polar Park.
The 20-year-old outfielder isn’t there quite yet.
But with MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 prospect stepping up to the plate less than 50 miles away from Fenway Park on Friday — Anthony knows that he’s knocking at the door to the majors.
“Just to continue to develop with this team, win, and hopefully get back up there as fast as I can,” Anthony said of the message from the Red Sox after being assigned to Triple-A earlier this week.
Sticking to the process has been a hallmark of Anthony’s mindset since he stormed onto the scene in Boston’s farm system as a second-round pick out of high school in 2022.
Such is the mindset necessary to stay grounded for a player whose hype has only grown with each passing month in the minor leagues.
Entering Worcester’s season opener on Friday, Anthony is also tabbed as Baseball America’s No. 2 prospect in the game — with both that publication and MLB Pipeline only listing Dodgers phenom Roki Sasaki ahead of him this season.
And with Sasaki already in the big-league ranks with Los Angeles, odds are that Anthony will reclaim that top spot on most prospect rankings in short order.
“He’s got a chance to be a 30-homer, high-average, high-OBP guy in right field, maybe with plus defense there, which is a ‘best player in the league’ profile,” The Athletic’s Keith Law said of Anthony in January.
He won’t turn 21 years old until next month, but Anthony has already developed a reputation as a refined hitter who’s already adept at working counts and hammering pitches into the bleachers.
Anthony impressed during the 2024 season, slashing .291/.396/.498 with 18 home runs, 65 RBI, and 21 stolen bases over 119 total games between Double-A Portland and Worcester.
He didn’t slow down after getting called up to Triple-A for the final month-plus of the 2024 campaign — slashing .344/.463/.519 over 35 games.
Even with his sterling debut in Worcester last summer, Anthony acknowledged that there might be some growing pains on tap this spring in his second go-around with the WooSox — due in large part to the climate.
“I got to play here at the end of year last year, and it was a little warmer than it was right now,” Anthony said. “It’s awesome. It’s a great park. The fans show out. It’s passionate.
“And we’re so close to Boston, it feels like you’re right there. And you can feel the energy from the fans, and I think it’s the best ballpark in Triple-A.”
It may only take a few months for Anthony to make the trek east from Worcester to Boston.
But even with all of the hype and discourse surrounding Anthony and his potential as a franchise stalwart in Boston, Anthony is looking to tune out the noise ahead of what stands to be a pivotal season of baseball for the young outfielder.
“Yeah, it’s hard not to hear it, but I don’t really pay too much attention to it,” Anthony said of the enthusiasm from fans. “I’m excited to play for those fans. They’re super passionate, which makes it more fun to play in that atmosphere.
“I think, like me and Marcelo [Mayer] were talking about it — the last two days, playing in Mexico, playing for 20,000 plus, those fans are into it, and we were just talking about how excited we are to get to Boston, and kind of feel that same energy again.”
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