BOSTON (AP) – Roman Anthony found himself in Worcester, poised for a 275-mile bus ride to Allentown, Pennsylvania.
“Honestly, it didn’t even cross my mind,” Anthony shared with reporters in the Red Sox dugout at Fenway Park prior to his major league debut in Boston’s 10-8 loss to Tampa Bay on Monday night. “I was just waiting in the food room with a few teammates when suddenly someone came in and said, ‘Hey, you’re going to the big leagues.’ From that moment, things got a bit hazy, but it was incredible. It’s something you dream about every single day.”
Playing in right field and batting fifth, Anthony received enthusiastic cheers during his pre-game introduction and a standing ovation from the 31,422 fans when he stepped up to bat in the second inning. He leaped into the field and got another round of applause as he returned to the dugout.
In the third inning, he almost recorded his first major league hit with a well-hit ball that clocked 111 mph, only to deflect off pitcher Shane Baz towards the third baseman. Additionally, he walked in the seventh, observing the runners at second and third base.
As the game reached the ninth inning, the crowd rose to their feet once more as he approached the plate with runners on second and third. He hit a sharply bouncing ball up the middle for an RBI groundout. Although he was slated to lead off the 11th inning, manager Alex Cora opted to substitute him for a pinch hitter against left-hander Ian Seymour.
“It was great to finally step onto the field and block out all the external distractions to play with the guys,” he reflected after the game. “Unfortunately, we didn’t secure a win, but it was a fantastic experience.”
In right field, Anthony capably fielded two balls—both singles—in four innings, though he misplayed a rolling ball under his glove, resulting in a two-base error that allowed Tampa Bay to extend their lead to 3-0. “Mistakes happen,” he admitted. “When you lose a game like that, it’s tough; you feel responsible for a small error like that. The key is to learn from it and improve.”
A 21-year-old second-round draft pick who went viral after hitting a 497-foot Grand Slam in Worcester, Anthony had been among the top prospects in the minors before his call-up. This season, he posted a .288 batting average with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in 58 Triple-A games.
His impressive performance in the minors led to a strong push from Red Sox fans for his promotion, especially as the team was trailing rival New York Yankees by 8.5 games. Fellow prospects Christian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer had received their calls earlier, but the Red Sox chose to be patient with Anthony until an outfielder was needed due to Wire Abreu’s injuries.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Mayer, who had been called up about two weeks prior. “This is something we’ve discussed for a while. I’m really excited about us all getting to play together in the big leagues today. I think we have a great team.”
Cora realized something was amiss with Abreu following Sunday’s game against the Yankees. Once it became clear that the injury would keep Abreu out for more than a day or two, the team decided to place him on the 10-day injured list due to a left oblique strain. Anthony was added to the 40-man roster by designating first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda for assignment.
“We’re in it to win a ballgame,” Cora expressed. “The kids worked hard to prepare for this moment. We’re thrilled. It’s a significant day for the organization.”
Before his grand slam on Saturday, Anthony was likely only known to the most ardent fans. Statcast measured the home run as the longest of the year, tracking hits across Major League, Triple A, and Class A Florida State League. Since Statcast began its tracking in 2015, only five home runs have exceeded it, including Rangers’ 505-foot shot and Nomar Mazara’s 505-footer from 2019.
After being promoted, Anthony had a brief window to call his parents, siblings, and his former baseball coach to gather some of his gear (his glove, one bat, and borrowed cleats). He arrived in Boston just hours before the game, aiming to see the historic red seat that marks Ted Williams’ legendary 502-foot homer at Fenway Park.
“Everything unfolded so fast. I don’t think anyone expects that call when it finally comes,” he said prior to the game. “Of course, a little notice would have been nice, but I was on a bus to Lehigh Valley just moments ago.”
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