Roman Anthony's early struggles in the Red Sox games felt like failure, but he learned incredibly fast.
As Roman Anthony was awaiting the final go-ahead to join Team USA for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, he had to keep his expectations in check. It wasn't about his own aspirations, though. "I didn't want to jump the gun, given the insurance stuff," Anthony shared with the Herald. "So I let my parents know, like 'Hey, there's a chance this doesn't work out. So let's not get too excited.'"
This measured approach isn't surprising, considering many of his teammates view Anthony as the most even-keeled, level-headed 21-year-old they've ever encountered. In moments that feel like a "dream come true" – and there have been quite a few over the past year – Boston's rising superstar consistently demonstrates a maturity and intentionality far beyond his years.
The last year presented Anthony with a wide array of challenges, and by all accounts, he navigated them with flying colors. "It's been a great year," he reflected. "I think it's not really one of those things that you can imagine."
Last winter, Anthony arrived at his first big-league camp as the No. 1 prospect, not just within the Red Sox organization, but across all of baseball. Still too young to legally purchase alcohol, he appeared remarkably at ease among seasoned veterans as he vied for a spot on the Opening Day roster. (He celebrated his 21st birthday on May 13th.)
"I learned a lot, learned a lot about myself, learned a lot last camp," Anthony stated. "It's a little bit different coming into this camp. A lot of uncertainty last camp. … Grinding out every day in spring and then for me, not necessarily performing as good as I wanted to."
While Anthony didn't secure a roster spot out of camp, his call-up came swiftly. He made his major league debut on June 9th and, less than two months later, signed an eight-year, $130 million extension with escalating clauses. Shockingly, less than a month after signing the lucrative deal, he suffered a season-ending oblique strain. This forced him to watch from the sidelines as the Red Sox achieved their first winning season and playoff appearance since 2021, a feat they likely wouldn't have accomplished without his contributions.
"I couldn't have asked for a more learning experience of a year," Anthony mused, "but a great year at the same time. There were so many different emotions, but I just learned from all of them, and really learned how to take care of myself."
Taking care of oneself is a different ballgame in the majors, Anthony quickly discovered. Minor league teams typically play six-game series. A position player might face the same opposing pitcher multiple times, which significantly alters the preparation needed. Struggling in his initial big-league games, Anthony felt a profound sense of failure.
"The preparation side of things," Anthony elaborated. "I did a really good job at understanding that I sucked at it in the beginning, and learning very fast that it’s different than the minor leagues and now I need to be a whole lot better at preparing and understanding matchups, who I might face, types of runners when I’m on defense, tendencies on guys, tendencies on things like third-base coaches and opposing teams who have a tendency of sending guys or not."
"Just things like that, that I literally never thought of in the minor leagues, that I had to learn fast in the big leagues," he continued. "If I could go back, I wish I would be better at it in the minors, but I think it’s a little bit more broad. … As ready as I felt, it was one of those things, I just had to experience it. I had to fail doing it in the big leagues in order for me to learn it and understand."
In his first 15 games, Anthony posted a .114 batting average with a .518 OPS. However, in the subsequent 56 games, his performance surged to a .329 average with a .931 OPS. With guidance from Alex Bregman and Trevor Story, Anthony implemented a “big adjustment” after the Phillies series, shortening his swing to “tap into that home run power and get the ball in the air.” He felt he was just beginning to hit his stride when the oblique injury struck.
"Toward the end of the year I felt like I was just unlocking what I had, that the best was yet to come," Anthony said, "and I still believe that, and that’s why I’m so excited for this year."
Consequently, Anthony reported to spring training this year with a newfound understanding of preparation and adjustment. Yet, he remained the same person: the level-headed, articulate, family-oriented young man the Red Sox have witnessed navigate pressure like a seasoned professional since his teenage years.
The roster has also seen changes, and the spotlight on Anthony is now more intense than ever. With the departures of Bregman and Rafael Devers, the Red Sox are looking to Anthony to assume a leadership role in the offense.
He's not just aiming to fill that role; he wants to excel in every aspect. "Coming up, I don’t want to say I’m expected to hit, but my profile in the minor leagues, right, everyone expects me to hit," Anthony explained. "But for me, really taking pride in the defensive stuff everyday, too. I really, obviously, want to be the best hitter I can be, but at the same time I really want to take pride in my defense, and my reads, and help the team out in more ways than just hitting."
Anthony is acutely aware of the heightened pressure. But he also understands the reasons behind it.
"This is a failing game," he stated. "We’re just trying to help the team win a World Series, and anything short of that is a failure. And we understand that when we don’t win, we’re expected to win."
"I think we’re just lucky enough to be in a franchise that we are, and with the way that these fans are, how passionate they are, and having the best fan base in the world. And understanding that they’ll let you hear it."
Anthony experienced this firsthand during his debut. "I learned quick it’s all about accountability," he recalled. "Coming up in my first game and making a crucial error to lose against the Rays, you learn fast. … These fans, they expect a lot out of me in a way that, they have respect for me and they really enjoy watching me play, and they expect nothing but the best every single day. For me, I wouldn’t want it any other way."
What fans might not fully grasp is that the outfielder is his own harshest critic, even more so than anyone in this demanding market could ever be. "I hold myself to such a high standard that when I don’t perform or when things don’t go the right way, I’m already on myself enough that any outside noise doesn’t really mean much," Anthony shared. "And I think that’s the biggest thing, is I expect so much out of myself that anything really short of perfection, I’m continuing to try and get there. So I think that helps a lot."
"And I don’t really pay too much attention to all the outside noise. I don’t understand how anyone could, and play this game, right? It can be very easy to get trapped in it, so for me I just block all that out."
But here's where it gets interesting: Anthony's self-imposed pressure and focus on perfection, while admirable, could it sometimes be a double-edged sword? Does an intense internal standard risk alienating him from the collective spirit of a team, or is it precisely what fuels elite performance? What are your thoughts on athletes who are their own toughest critics? Let us know in the comments below!
