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Roman Anthony, Baseball’s No. 1 Prospect, Called Up by Red Sox

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BOSTON — The wait is over. Roman Anthony, the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball, is headed to the major leagues. The Boston Red Sox are calling up the 21-year-old outfielder, sources confirmed to Christopher Smith. In corresponding moves, the Red Sox sent outfielder Wilyer Abreu to the injured list and designated Ryan Noda for assignment. The stage is set for a debut that has fans buzzing and the baseball world on notice.

Roman Anthony: Triple-A Terror

Anthony, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound left-handed slugger, has been demolishing Triple-A pitching with the Worcester Red Sox, posting a .288 average, 10 home runs, 29 RBI, and a .916 OPS. His latest feat—a 497-foot grand slam on Saturday, the longest homer in affiliated baseball this season—seemed to force Boston’s hand. “The kid’s a freak,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. 

Anthony’s rise has been meteoric. MLB Pipeline and Baseball America rank him No. 1, and he draws comparisons to young stars like Juan Soto for his plate discipline and raw power. His 27 barrels in Triple-A lead the level, and his 95.5 mph average exit velocity rivals big-league elites. “He’s a game-changer,” said Worcester teammate Marcelo Mayer, who debuted last week after an injury to Alex Bregman. “Roman’s been crushing it. He’s going to open eyes.”

A Spark for a Struggling Squad

The Red Sox, mired at 32-35 and 8½ games out of first in the AL East, desperately need a spark. Anthony, a second-round pick in 2022, is now that catalyst. “Roman’s got that rare mix of power, speed, and defense,” said Craig Breslow, Boston’s chief baseball officer.

Worcester Red Sox players Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony watch fireworks following a Triple-A game on May 2, 2025 at Polar Park.

The call-up comes amid growing pressure from fans and analysts. “Boston can’t waste any more time,” wrote Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic, arguing Anthony’s presence could stabilize a shaky outfield and boost a lineup. The Red Sox lead the majors with 17 one-run losses, and Anthony’s versatility—able to play all three outfield spots—offers flexibility. “I’m just excited to play,” Anthony said, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “I get to do this for a living, and I’m ready for whatever’s next.” His calm demeanor belies a ferocious swing that produced a 115.5 mph homer last week, one of only 23 balls hit that hard in the majors this year.

The Roman Empire Arrives

Anthony is the last of the “big-four” — now the big three after Kyle Teel‘s departure in the Garret Crochet trade — to make it to Boston. With Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu crowding Boston’s outfield, Anthony’s path to everyday at-bats may involve a trade. Sources are mentioning Jarren Duran in trade rumors. “He’s not knocking at the door, he’s kicking it down”. Alex Cora on Anthony last week. Well, the hinges are blown off, Roman Anthony bursts onto the scene, ready to launch his long-awaited MLB career.

Main Image Credit: © Rick Cinclair / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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