The Boston Red Sox watched Roman Anthony flash his potential in 2025. He appeared in just 73 games after being called up in mid-June but made them count. Anthony slashed .282/.374/.459 with eleven home runs and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting despite the limited sample size.
The season ended earlier than anyone wanted. Anthony strained his oblique on an awkward swing against the Cleveland Guardians in September. He missed the final month of the regular season and Boston’s playoff loss to the New York Yankees in early October.
Now healthy and preparing for his first full season, one of baseball’s top insiders had plenty to say about what comes next for the 21-year-old outfielder.
Passan Makes Major Anthony Prediction
Anthony was placed at No. 33 on ESPN’s MLB Top 100 list for 2026. The ranking represents a significant jump considering Anthony did not appear on the list at all in 2025.
The projection that came with it was even more notable.
Jeff Passan predicted Anthony will slash .286/.391/.538 with 31 home runs, 116 runs scored, and 84 RBIs this season. Those numbers would represent a massive leap from his rookie year and put him in elite company across baseball.
The reasoning behind the projection is rooted in data. Passan pointed out that Anthony hit the ball harder on average last season than Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Oneil Cruz. The raw power is there. What Anthony needs to unlock is consistency in elevating the baseball.
Passan’s projection assumes Anthony makes that adjustment in his sophomore season for the Red Sox.
Why Anthony Is Ready for the Jump
The oblique injury that ended Anthony’s rookie year could end up benefiting him in the long run.
“It was kind of a blessing in disguise in a sense because now it’s understanding what you need to do to get your body ready,” Anthony told The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey. “The last few years, I could go out and just take the field and not really stretch as much. Over the course of 162, we have to be super responsible and super on top of everything.”
Anthony overhauled his preparation routine during the offseason. The goal is to reduce the risk of reinjury while preparing his body for the coil and abrupt braking action his swing demands.
The Red Sox believe in Anthony enough to lock him in long-term. Boston signed him to an eight-year, $130 million contract extension after just 73 games. Manager Alex Cora made his plans for Anthony clear when speaking to MLB Network about the 2026 lineup.
“Roman will lead off,” Cora said. “The kid, he’s a good hitter, he knows the strike zone. With one swing, it’s 1-0 Red Sox. He did an outstanding job for us last year, and I expect him to do the same thing.”
1. Roman Anthony 2. Trevor Story 3. Jarren Duran
MLB Network + @SageUSAmerica
Red Sox Star Ready to Represent Team USA
Roman Anthony is representing Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. The call came after Corbin Carroll went down with an injury, opening a roster spot that Anthony filled without hesitation.
“For me, growing up, it’s been a dream of mine,” Anthony said. “Coming into spring, didn’t really expect it. I thought they had the roster set already. So for me, it was about just coming in and getting ready for my first full year. And then got that call, got approval from the team, all the guys. For me, it was a no-brainer. It’s a blessing for sure.”
In Tuesday’s exhibition against the Giants, he delivered a two-run blast in the sixth inning. The ball carried just under 400 feet. It was the kind of swing that reminded everyone why he earned the call in the first place.
Team USA opens pool play Friday in Houston against Brazil. Anthony will be competing for playing time in the outfield. The tournament gives him a chance to learn from veterans before returning to the Red Sox for his first full Major League season.
Final Word for the Red Sox
Three years ago, Roman Anthony sat in the stands and watched the World Baseball Classic championship game as a fan. This week, he wore Team USA’s jersey and crushed a home run in his exhibition debut.
Jeff Passan’s projection for Anthony in 2026 is ambitious. Thirty-one home runs, 116 runs scored, and an OPS near .930 would put him among the best young players in baseball. The tools are there. The work ethic is there. The preparation routine is now there too. Anthony’s first full Major League season begins after the World Baseball Classic ends.
The Red Sox are counting on him to be their leadoff hitter and a cornerstone of their lineup for years to come.
Passan thinks he is ready to deliver. Anthony intends to prove him right.
Red Sox Get Massive Roman Anthony Prediction for 2026 Season