The Boston Red Sox may have found a franchise cornerstone in Roman Anthony, who quickly made his presence felt in 2025.

Anthony played beyond his years as a rookie, recording an .859 OPS and 2.7 fWAR in limited time. One writer highlighted just how promising the 21-year-old’s future looks.

MLB.com’s Jim Callis ranked Anthony first among all 2025 MLB rookies in terms of long-term value. He topped fellow American League Rookie of the Year finalists Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson, with National League pitchers Chase Burns and Cade Horton rounding out the top five.

“Before he went down with a left oblique strain, Anthony slashed .292/.396/.463 with eight homers and 40 walks in 71 games,” Callis noted. “He became the third-youngest player in AL/NL history (behind Hall of Famers Mel Ott and Ted Williams) to homer and draw four walks in the same game, and he matched Teddy Ballgame as the only Red Sox players to reach base 82 times in their first 50 contests.”

It’s high praise considering the competition. Kurtz slugged .619 with 36 home runs in 117 games. Wilson’s .311 batting average finished third among qualified hitters, and Horton posted a 2.67 ERA in 118 innings.

Kurtz will almost certainly win AL Rookie of the Year over Anthony, but the Red Sox outfielder has sky-high potential as a polished hitter with a keen batting eye and stout glove. Unlocking his power ceiling will be the next step toward the left-hander taking the leap to superstar territory.

Anthony wasn’t the only Red Sox newcomer Callis ranked prominently. Callis placed Marcelo Mayer sixth, opining that the infielder “gives off Corey Seager vibes” despite a modest start to his career.

Kristian Campbell placed 16th even though he finished the season in the minors, and Carlos Narváez at No. 36 will prove too low if he comes close to replicating his 2025 campaign.