For Red Sox’s Roman Anthony, It’s Process Over Production

Low-A Salem outfielder Roman Anthony didn’t turn heads with his surface production early this season. The 2022 second-rounder out of South Florida prep power Stoneman Douglas hit .239/.384/.343 with one home run through 35 games.

Yet Anthony has emerged as a standout in the Red Sox system thanks to a number of standout traits that are well ahead of his years.

Anthony’s swing decisions are described as elite, with a remarkable understanding of the strike zone and the pitches that he can attack. He had more walks (32) than strikeouts (30).

“He just has a really good approach, really good understanding of the strike zone, really good understanding of the pitches he should swing at in the strike zone,” Red Sox farm director Brian Abraham said, “and he can impact the baseball.

“He’s hitting the ball really hard, swinging the bat really fast.”

That same trait, combined with strength and an impressive 6-foot-2, 200-pounds frame that projects to add more muscle, has yielded average exit velocities and top-end EVs that, as a 19-year-old, already were at or above major league average. 

Anthony’s numbers have been held down by virtue of a sky-high groundball rate of 51% entering June. He was working to increase the frequency with which he pulls the ball in the air. 

But his bat speed and high contact rate when swinging suggest the issue should dissipate with experience. 

“It’s process over production,” one evaluator said. 

Atop a view that he has a chance to have plus or better grades for both his hitting ability and power, Anthony also surprised scouts with how well he moves in center field. It’s possible he’ll outgrow the position, but if that happens, he still would project as a strong defensive right fielder. 

“He’s just got all the tools to be really good,” another evaluator said. 

 

SOX YARNS

— The Red Sox promoted shortstop Marcelo Mayer to Double-A Portland at the end of May. At 20 years old, he became the youngest Red Sox draftee to reach Double-A since Anthony Rizzo and Casey Kelly in 2010. 

— Shortstop Mikey Romero, the 2022 first-rounder out of high school, remained in extended spring training through all of April and May due to a back strain that he developed in spring training.