Roman Anthony started the 2023 season in Single-A on the outside of the top 10 prospects in the Boston Red Sox organization. Fast forward to the end of the 2024 season, and he's 20 years old, tearing up Triple-A and claiming the top spot as the best prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America.
Anthony made his Triple-A debut on August 13 and immediately became the biggest nightmare of every opposing pitcher. The left-handed hitting outfielder slashed .344/.463/.519 with the same number of walks (31) as strikeouts (31) in 35 games.
Anthony slashed .291/.396/.498 with 32 doubles, four triples, and 18 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. He had 65 RBI, 93 runs, and 21 steals in 119 games. Anthony was more than just a bat. His defense and baserunning were on display all year long, too.
What did this season do for him? How does it feel to be the top-ranked prospect in baseball? What are his goals for the offseason? We went straight to the source to get the answers and to acknowledge Anthony's excellence.
Roman Anthony reached base in every one of his 5 plate appearances last night. 🔥
— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) September 21, 2024
He walked 4 times and ripped a 99.9 mph double. pic.twitter.com/wqUZYuUvqN
Boston Red Sox prospect Roman Anthony reflects on 2024 season
Q: What was your biggest improvement in 2024?
"I think, honestly, my defense and moving around as much as possible. It's still a work in progress for me. I think the little things like that. Going into the year, I was learning how to play different positions, especially as the year went on as I turned it upward and was about to move up. That's something that they wanted to emphasize on.
"So, I'm just giving a little bit of credit to myself for being able to go out there and move around and giving credit to the coaching staff for moving me around a lot and throwing me in new positions because last year was mainly centerfield. I think just being flexible was the biggest improvement."
Q: What are your offseason goals?
"I have a lot. To continue to add strength in every aspect. Add arm strength in the outfield. Continue to try to get faster and continue to emphasize moving everything fast in terms of the weight room. Getting as twitchy as I can and getting as strong as I can going into spring training to give myself the best chance."
Q: Speaking of spring training, is the 2025 spring training already on your mind? Are you thinking about possibly making the Opening Day roster?
"Yeah, I want to get there as fast as I can. I'm going to do everything I can this offseason and force that upon whoever makes that decision. I'll be ready. I know I will. I know I'll be fully capable of whatever the task at hand is. I trust the guys at the top that they'll make the right decision. But, in terms of everything on my end? I'll be ready."
Q: What differences did you notice from Double-A to Triple-A in terms of atmosphere?
"Nothing. It's baseball. Credit to the Sea Dogs, and the places we played. I think we did a great job in Portland starting the year. We draw a great crowd in the summer. But, to me, it doesn't really matter. I like playing in front of more people, but nothing. It was the same game. I knew that coming into it. I trusted my game and my routine. We've got a great group of guys here so that always helps. But nothing changed."
Q: What did you think of Polar Park?
"It's awesome. That's about as big league as it gets for Triple-A. It's brand new. . . . I was spoiled during my time in Triple-A and got to play at some great parks. Polar Park was unbelievable. The staff was amazing. Credit to all the people that work there. I can't thank them enough. Worcester was awesome."
Q: Immediate plans to get away from baseball now that the season is over?
"Just go relax. Go home, go to the beach, go golfing with my uncle, and hang out with my family while that kind of month lasts, and then it's go time again. Obviously, a big, huge offseason. I'm not planning on taking a bunch of time off, but I'll definitely take some time off.
"But, just going home and being a kid. Enjoying my family and getting to see my brother and sister. I'm looking forward to the holidays and all of that. It will be great."
Q: Massive numbers in Triple-A. What made you flip a switch when you got to the level?
"I think just, the more at-bats I got as the year went on. The more I adjusted, the more I learned about these arms. Seeingthese arms more and more. The more I have on them, the more confident I feel going into it.
"Even without that, continuing to get at-bats, develop every day, and luckily be healthy enough to go out there and play every day. That was the goal. And hopefully looking to play a lot more next year, a lot more games.
"But I think just trusting the guys. We had a great lineup here. Trusting the guys behind me and never trying to do too much. As the year went on, I continued to learn more and more. As I got here in particular, I learned a lot from guys who have a lot of big league time, from the staff down to all the guys who have maybe once been in my shoes.
"It's a mixture of everything, and continuing to trust myself and step on the gas in August and September when people tend to let off."
Q: Two homers away from a 20/20 season. People seem to be shocked by your speed. Is that part of your game that you hope to continue to focus on and grow?
"Absolutely. I think it's going to be a huge emphasis for me going into the offseason. It all translates. The more I continue to add speed and gain quickness, the twitchier I get, and the more I can move around all three outfield positions, steal bags, get out of the box, and be a force against the defense.
"It’s going to haunt me that I didn’t get the two home runs. I have been thinking about it for the last five weeks. The last time I hit a homer was in Norfolk, so I was sure I was going to hit 20, but I didn't. But that's baseball. Next year, we’ll have to do it."
Q: How did you find out you were the number one ranked prospect according to Baseball America?
"Baseball America came to Worcester. They were there, not the last homestand, but the one before it. They gave me a heads-up that I would be second after Caminero, and that Caminero was graduating shortly.
"It was nice to hear that and to get that accomplishment. But now that the season's over, it doesn't matter going into spring training. I think there is one goal, and everyone knows that goal.
"It's great for the time being, and I will enjoy it. I'm sure it will hit me a little more once I get home, and I'm not playing every day. But, like I said, in a few weeks, when I start to ramp up, there is only one goal."