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The wait is over. On Monday, the Purple Sox known as up Roman Anthonythe consensus prime prospect in baseball. He batted fifth and performed proper subject in opposition to the Rays, going 0-for-4 with a stroll, an RBI, and a pricey error. After spending the previous few seasons completely torching the minors, it seems Anthony simply wanted to smash a 497-foot grand slam – the longest ball hit in both the majors or the minors this season – with the intention to earn his spot in Boston.
What actually introduced Anthony to Boston was a left indirect pressure to Wilyer Abreuwhom the Purple Sox positioned on the IL after they introduced Anthony’s promotion (although the 497-footer definitely couldn’t have harm). The group designated Ryan Noda for project to open a 40-man roster spot.
After all of the anticipation, the promotion occurred on the final minute; there have been no tear-jerker undercover boss movies. Though Abreu confirmed discomfort throughout Friday’s sport in opposition to the Yankees, the group wasn’t certain till Monday afternoon that he’d truly must go on the IL. The Triple-A Worcester Purple Sox had been on the bus about to move to their subsequent sequence within the Lehigh Valley when the massive membership known as and requested them to attend. Everyone piled off the bus, however the group’s gear was already en path to Pennsylvania. So Anthony drove up the Mass Pike after getting the information and performed the sport in borrowed cleats. Fortunately, teammate Marcelo Mayer already had considered one of Anthony’s bats.
The Purple Sox may definitely use a savior proper about now. At 32-36, they’re in fourth place within the East, 9 video games behind the Yankees, and 4 1/2 video games out of the ultimate Wild Card spot. We presently have them with a 15.7% probability of constructing the playoffs.
True to type, Anthony didn’t swing on the first pitch in any of his 5 plate appearances. He began his profession with a fly out to left subject within the second inning. Within the fourth, he rifled a 111.2-mph line drive straight up the center and off the leg of pitcher Shane Baz. It took a lucky bounce for the Rays and ended up a 1-5-3 groundout. Within the fifth inning, Anthony made a disastrous error, fully whiffing on a routine bouncer and costing the group a run. Within the sixth, he struck out trying on a brutal, knee-buckling front-door sweeper from Garrett Cleavinger. It was a welcome-to-the-big-leagues second. Anthony walked within the seventh inning and knocked in a run on a groundout within the ninth. He was slated to guide off the eleventh with the Purple Sox trailing by two, however with left-hander Ian Seymour on the mound, he was lifted for pinch-hitter Rob Refsnyder. Boston misplaced, 10-8.
Though it seems like Sox followers have been ready on Anthony endlessly, he solely turned 21 final month. The group went into the offseason with a bunch of prospects who got here to be generally known as the Huge 4: Anthony, Kristian CampbellMayer, and catcher Kyle Teel. Anthony was probably the most anticipated of the group, however he was the final to make it to the massive leagues. Campbell broke camp with the membership regardless of a dreadful spring coaching, acquired off to a red-hot begin, then cooled off in dramatic style. He has a 24 wRC+ since April 30, and some have argued he wants a while in Worcester to determine issues out. Shortstop Mayer was known as as much as play third within the wake of Alex Bregman’s hamstring damage, and has run a 99 wRC+ over 13 video games with Boston. Teel went to the White Sox within the Garrett Crochet commerce and made his debut on Friday.
The Purple Sox chosen Anthony out of highschool within the second spherical of the 2022 draft, although his $2.5 million bonus was consistent with a late first-round choose. He was thought of to be a power-first prospect, however as soon as he acquired to the minors, he confirmed extra contact capacity than anticipated and started rocketing up trade lists. Right here’s what Eric Longenhagen wrote in February, when he ranked Anthony second to Roki Sasaki within the High 100: “In professional ball, Anthony’s swing has develop into looser, and extra lively and kinetic, as his palms construct monumental momentum earlier than they explode and break the sound barrier with a few of the finest bat velocity in professional baseball. The whip and looseness of his hips and palms at his dimension are very particular. These modifications not solely unlocked a brand new gear of uncooked energy for Anthony… however additionally they appear to have made him extra snug and adept at shifting the barrel across the zone.”
Anthony made it to Double-A in 2023, working a 140 wRC+ with 14 dwelling runs throughout three ranges. He was even higher in 2024, spending 84 video games in Double-A and 35 in Triple-Some time combining for a 147 wRC+ and 18 homers. Throughout 58 video games in Worcester this season, Anthony hit 10 dwelling runs and ran an absurd 19.2% stroll charge en path to a 146 wRC+. His common exit velocity of 95 mph would rank fourth amongst all certified main leaguers. As Jarrett Seidler famous for Baseball ProspectusAnthony has given again a few of his contact positive factors as he’s reached the tougher pitching of the excessive minors, however he’s nonetheless making sufficient contact, and the package deal is a uncommon mixture of energy and persistence. “At peak,” wrote Eric, “Anthony can be a middle-of-the-order monster posting large energy and on-base percentages.”
Just a few nits are protecting Anthony within the 60-FV tier, moderately than 65 or 70. He tends to swing down on the ball, leading to extra grounders than anybody would love. It’s in all probability not a coincidence that the one ball he actually smoked Monday night time was a low liner. He ran a 52.2% groundball charge in Worcester this season.
As Eric famous in February, the adjustment that helped Anthony make extra contact on fastballs on the prime of the zone additionally opened up a brand new gap in opposition to breaking and offspeed pitches on the backside, and he’s nonetheless behind on fastballs. Over the previous two seasons in Worcester, he’s pulled simply 27.2% of the fastballs he’s put into play. Amongst Triple-A gamers with no less than 100 tracked fastballs in play, that places him in simply the seventeenth percentile. As soon as once more, although, his hard-hit charge in opposition to fastballs places him within the 99th percentile, and there’s no cozier place than Fenway Park for a left-handed batter who likes to hit the ball the opposite approach.
At instances, prospect writers have expressed issues that Anthony’s stroll charge is barely synthetic; they fear he’s so passive that he earns tons of walks in opposition to minor league pitchers who don’t have a fantastic really feel for the zone, a trick that gained’t work as effectively in opposition to main league pitchers. He ran a 35.6% swing charge in Worcester, decrease than each certified main leaguer not named Juan Soto. Over the previous two seasons, 229 gamers have seen no less than 400 tracked pitches over the center of the plate on the Triple-A degree. Anthony’s 60.1% swing charge on these pitches ranks 221st amongst them. Then once more, his .460 xwOBA on these pitches ranks second and his common exit velocity of 96.3 mph ranks first.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Anthony is destined for an outfield nook, however on a group with fewer choices, he may need gotten the prospect to begin his profession in heart. Boston’s outfield stays a puzzle, largely in a great way. The group has gotten 4.8 WAR from its outfielders up to now this season, the fifth-highest complete in baseball. In Anthony, Abreu, Jaren Duranand CEDDANNE RAFAELAthe Purple Sox have 4 younger outfielders and no best method to put them collectively. And that’s earlier than you take into account Masataka Yoshidawho continues to be rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder. Yoshida is able to hit now, however although he’s not defender, the Purple Sox have insisted he gained’t return till he can play within the subject. Within the meantime, they’ve given away Yoshida’s DH spot, and it’s trying much less and fewer seemingly that he’ll discover his approach again to Boston.
Rafaela is a particular defender, however he’s acquired a few of the worst plate self-discipline ever recorded. There’s no purpose to count on him to be even a league-average bat, however so long as he’s not too removed from that degree, he may be invaluable as a glove-first heart fielder. In truth, he leads Purple Sox outfielders with 1.6 WAR. He’s additionally the one one of many 4 with a contract extension, and he’s set to play in Boston by way of the 2031 season (with a group choice for 2032).
Duran is coming off a breakout 6.7-WAR season, however as anticipated, he has regressed to one thing approaching a three-win tempo this yr. Whereas Rafaela was filling in for Trevor Story at shortstop in 2024, Duran stuffed in brilliantly at heart, however this season his protection has taken a step again. Eric has Anthony’s protection forward of Duran’s proper now.
Abreu gained a Gold Glove and completed sixth within the Rookie of the Yr voting final season, however the Purple Sox view him as strictly a platoon participant. He acquired off to a rocket-fueled begin this season, working a 154 wRC+ over his first 41 video games on the again of a drastically decreased chase charge. Nonetheless, his chase charge has since exploded and he’s posted a wRC+ of simply 20 from Could 13 onward. He’s platooning with Refsnyder, who’s, for the second season in a row, mashing. Refsnyder is presently slashing .284/.383/.522 for a 145 wRC+.
The group has been obscure about Abreu’s damage, and it’s unknown whether or not he’ll want greater than the minimal 10-day IL stint. Even whereas Abreu is out, it’s not solely clear what the proper transfer is. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe wrote that manger Alex Cora is “uncertain concerning the frequency with which the lefthanded slugging prospect can be used in opposition to lefties.” In different phrases, it seems like they’re more likely to plug Anthony into Abreu’s platoon with Refsnyder. Mentioned Cora, “Clearly, there’s an adjustment interval within the large leagues, and I’m not saying we’re going to ease him into the motion, however we perceive the (high quality of the) at-bat. We’ll combine and match, however I’m comfortable that he’s right here, and I do know he’s going to contribute.” It’s laborious to think about calling up the highest prospect in baseball solely to platoon him, particularly since he was crushing lefties within the minors. After I requested Eric concerning the developmental impact of such a transfer, he replied it was an inexpensive method to get Anthony’s toes moist, however it ought to solely final so long as the group has a shot on the playoffs. It’s laborious to justify protecting Refsnyder, arguably the best-hitting outfielder on the group, on the bench, particularly when his contract is expiring. Sitting him now would harm his commerce worth on the deadline.
Issues will solely get extra sophisticated as soon as Abreu returns. It wouldn’t be stunning to see Duran in heart with Rafaela in a lesser position as a pinch-runner and defensive specialist, however then once more, Rafaela has been Boston’s most dear outfielder this season. It’s additionally doable the Purple Sox may try and commerce somebody to clear the logjam, particularly in the event that they see themselves as sellers on the deadline. The only reply can be to platoon Rafaela and Abreu subsequent season, shifting Duran to heart in opposition to lefties. The draw back of that plan is Rafaela doesn’t hit lefties all that effectively, both.
No matter how issues shake out, discovering room for Anthony in a crowded outfield is an issue that any group would like to have. And we’ll get some solutions when the Yankees arrive in Boston on Thursday, as they appear like they’re lined as much as throw three straight lefties on the Purple Sox.
