Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony looks to be on track to represent Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The opening for Anthony to represent the U.S. came after Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand.
Nonetheless, the hurdle for Anthony was passing a physical. On Feb. 15, MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported that Anthony cleared the Red Sox physical and now awaits final approval from WBC and Team USA, including insurance considerations.
Moreover, Cotillo reports that a decision is expected on Feb. 16. If everything clears, Anthony has a chance to fill that spot and join an outfield that includes the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, the Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, and the Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton.
Team USA opting to go with Anthony to fill the role left behind Carroll shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Red Sox standout finished last season third in American League Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .292 with 18 doubles, eight homers, and an .859 OPS, good enough for 3.1 bWAR in 71 games.
The strong rookie campaign came to an abrupt end when Anthony strained his left oblique on a swing on Sept. 2, forcing him to miss the postseason.
Roman Anthony Gets Blunt WBC Take
Despite Anthony representing his country, NESN’s Joe Murray made a blunt comment regarding seeing the Red Sox’s young star leave the team to play at the WBC for the U.S.
“I would like him to be ready for the Red Sox,” Murray said in a video posted by NESN on Feb. 13. “He’s going to miss time here. We’re trying to figure out who the left fielder is going to be.
“He’s a great player. Guys, there’s no more pressure on any player than Roman Anthony. I think we all know that. Great. It’s good for him to go there. I wish he could be back here trying to win games for the Red Sox.”
Furthermore, Boston will be well represented at the WBC, with 10 other players, including Anthony, suiting up for their countries.
Among the Red Sox headed to the WBC: Ceddanne Rafaela (Netherlands); Jarren Duran (Mexico); Brayan Bello (Dominican Republic); Masataka Yoshida (Japan); Greg Weissert (Italy); Jovani Moran (Puerto Rico); Nate Eaton (Great Britain); and Wilyer Abreu, Willson Contreras and Ranger Suarez (Venezuela).
Boston Could See Better Version of Garret Crochet in 2026
Meanwhile, Anthony’s other teammates on the Red Sox are getting ready for the 2026 MLB season. Garret Crochet spoke with NESN and shared what he’s looking to improve on this season with Boston as the team looks to get off to a good start in what should be a competitive AL East.
“I feel like I do a lot of my best work at the end of my outings, which I think will be a big focus for me this year,” Crochet told the outlet on Feb. 13. “It’s the first time and second time through the order. How can I really neutralize the lineups?
“Because I feel like the third time through the order was never a glaring issue for me. It was the more I got to know the hitter and the speed of the game at hand, the better I got. But this year, it’s about how I keep my foot on the gas the whole time.”
Red Sox’s Roman Anthony Gets Big Team USA Update for WBC