Red Sox’s Roman Anthony Breaks Down MLB Debut After Long-Awaited Call-Up

Welcome to the party, pal.

Roman Anthony, the top-rated prospect in baseball, made his MLB debut Monday night just hours after being called up from Triple-A by the Boston Red Sox.

Anthony got the start in right field, replacing Wilyer Abreu, who landed on the injured list with a left oblique strain. Batting fifth, Anthony went 0-for-4 with one walk and one strikeout. He also picked up his first RBI with a groundout in the ninth inning, which drove in designated hitter Rafael Devers.

Anthony left the game in the bottom of the 11th inning when manager Alex Cora summoned Rob Refsnyder to pinch-hit for the rookie. Boston lost, 10-8, to the Tampa Bay Rays but Red Sox Nation was a winner for getting its first glimpse of Anthony in the big leagues.

The 21-year-old phenom didn’t sound overwhelmed by the experience.

“It was nice to finally take the field, forget about all the outside noise and just be able to take the field with the guys,” he told reporters afterward, according to ESPN. “Unfortunate we couldn’t get a win, but it was a good experience — good to just get the first one over with.”

The Red Sox’s season-long fielding woes continued Monday, with a pair of miscues in the field, including one by Anthony in the fifth inning when a ball rolled under his glove for a two-base error, gifting the Rays an unearned run.

“It just can’t happen,” he said. “It’s tough when you lose a game like that, you feel like that’s the reason we lost — little things like that. Just got to learn from it and be better.”

All eyes once again will be on Anthony on Tuesday when the Red Sox and Rays continue their three-game series at Fenway Park.