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Sean McAdam: Red Sox’ Roman Anthony is ready for his close-up
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- Sean McAdam: Red Sox’ Roman Anthony is ready for his close-up
FORT MYERS, Fla. — For anyone else, it might be daunting.
Being invited to take part in the World Baseball Classic after less than half a season in the big leagues is not in way typical.
Nor is being a vessel for his team’s wildest hopes and dreams, recognized as the most talented player on a roster that features six other All-Stars.
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But Roman Anthony is not anybody else, a point that was driven home over the weekend when he was invited to join Team USA in the upcoming WBC, a last-minute replacement for the injured Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks .
In less than two weeks, he’ll leave his second major league Red Sox spring training camp to play the game on the biggest stage imaginable. And when he returns from that, with all of 71 big league games to his credit, to be his team’s best position player.
No pressure.
Some might feel overwhelmed by the expectations that come with such an invitation. Anthony, however, is oddly unaffected by all that is coming at him, which in itself is a measure of his own uncanny maturity and humility.
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“It’s amazing,” he said Monday morning. “Just getting to be around those guys and getting that opportunity to be around the game’s best and be around so many veteran guys who have done it for such a long time...it will be a great learning experience.
“But at the same time, understanding that there’s a goal that we have to try to come out on top and at the same time, you have to be ready for everything.”
Only two weeks ago, when he reported to camp, Anthony expected to be the one Red Sox outfielder not taking part in the tournament. Jarren Duran (Mexico), Ceddanne Rafaela (Netherlands), Wilyer Abreu (Venezuela) and Masataka Yoshida (Japan) were all committed to playing for their native countries. Anthony was the outlier.
No longer. Anthony will now join a Team USA outfield that boasts Aaron Judge , Pete Crow-Armstrong and Byron Buxton .
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“Didn’t expect it at all,” said Anthony. “Obviously, (when Team USA manager Mark DeRosa) called, it was like, ‘Hey, I’m super stoked, regardless of where I play or whatever it is. This is an amazing opportunity, just to be around these guys and be a good teammate and represent this country.”
By two years, he’s the youngest player on the team. Every other player has more experience. He’ll be on a roster with players who’ve won multiple Cy Young Awards ( Tarik Skubal , Clayton Kershaw ) and multiple MVPs (Judge, Bryce Harper ).
Heady stuff for someone who didn’t make his major league debut until last June 9.
In one sense, this isn’t anything new for Anthony. Since he was drafted in the second round in 2022, he’s been fast-tracked for stardom. Long before most evaluators and publications recognized him as the game’s top prospect, Red Sox fans counted down for his arrival, like New Years Eve revelers in Times Square.
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Following a bit of a rough introduction to the big leagues last summer, he hit his stride after a few weeks. Starting July 1, he slashed .318/.417/.503 with seven homers and 26 RBI before an oblique pull in early September interrupted his ascent and cut short his season.
He shrugged off the power surge he displayed in the final two months of last season as merely a natural evoliution. He exudes confidence without bearing a trace of cockiness.
“It’s just a game of adjustments,” he said, “so I think, every day, getting more at-bats, understanding tendencies of guys and different teams and learning how to prepare better every day. Just getting in the media room and attaining as much info as I could before I went out there, so I felt like I was fully prepared every single day.
“I think the more you do that, the more you understand how to maintain a good routine and kind of adjust off that routine. I think that’s the biggest thing for me, that I got good at later in the year and as time went on. I didn’t know as much in the minor leagues and I had to learn pretty fast at the big league level. Just constantly adjusting.”
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There’s been a lot in the last calendar year: a major league debut, an eight-year, $130 million contract extension , and now, a chance to represent his country.
At the end of the month, he’ll begin his first full major league season, charged with supplying much of the sock that the lineup so desperately needs.
But no, Anthony maintained, he doesn’t feel overwhelmed.
“No, I don’t really look at it like that,” said Anthony. “I would really want it any other way. It’s all good things up to this point....I wouldn’t say it’s happened fast or been overwhelming. It’s all just been a blessing, for sure.”
With the best, undoubtedly, still to come.
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