The Boston Red Sox had many bright spots last season en route to their first playoff berth in four years. Numerous young players stepped up and contributed throughout the season, from Carlos Narvaez and Brayan Bello to Payton Tolle and Connelly Early.
The most exciting, though, was probably Roman Anthony.
The former top prospect didn’t debut until June 9 and took a few weeks to hit his stride, but once he did, it was a sight to behold.
Once he started raking in late June, he didn’t stop. Anthony showcased elite plate discipline, solid power and great contact skills, doing things that no Red Sox rookie had done at his age since Ted Williams.
When an oblique injury prematurely ended his season in early September, Anthony was rolling. Over his final 56 games, he batted .329/.419/.512 with 43 runs and 24 extra-base hits, ending his rookie year on a high note.
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Now, all eyes are on the 21-year-old outfielder to see what he can do for an encore. Boston is putting a lot of pressure on him, banking on him to come back healthy, keep producing at a high level and carry a diminished lineup that no longer has Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers.
He’s certainly capable of replicating his performance or building on it in Year 2, as MLB Now just ranked him the second-best left fielder in baseball behind teammate Jarren Duran. However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him battle some growing pains and a sophomore slump as the league adjusts to him.
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Anthony has a lot to live up to, as he’s already set the bar ridiculously high. After getting a taste of his remarkable ceiling last year, Red Sox fans are excited to see what he can do in his first full season and beyond.
Featured image via Daniel Kucin Jr./Imagn Images
