The Boston Red Sox have a decision to make that could affect them at the Major League level and in the minor leagues. Their No. 1 ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline, 20-year-old outfielder Roman Anthony, appears ready to contribute at the big league level.

Anthony recorded a .983 OPS with 12 doubles in 35 games at Triple-A Worcester in 2024 and is a potential building block for the Red Sox in the coming years. The only question about Anthony is when he will make his MLB debut. Currently, the Red Sox have an outfield of Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, and Ceddanne Rafaela. Abreu is off to a blistering start at the plate, leading the American League with a .480 OBP, and has already recorded 12 RBIs. Duran finished eighth in the AL MVP voting in 2024 and looks poised to be even more valuable on both sides of the ball this season.

Manager Alex Cora is not likely to take playing time away from either player to give Anthony time at the Major League level. Scott Odoardi of Just Baseball predicts that when the Red Sox promote Anthony to the Red Sox, the organization will move Rafaela to the bench.

“At some point, a decision will have to be made,” Odoardi wrote on Friday. “The most realistic option is Rafaela gets relegated to a super utility role, but can you justify moving a guy to the bench one year into an eight-year, $50 million deal? I think you have to, especially if he continues to put up poor at-bats.” Odoardi noted Anthony is ready for the MLB level, despite Rafaela’s excellent defense in the outfield.

“It’s unfortunate because Rafaela is such an exciting player to watch when he’s clicking, but Roman Anthony is just too talented to sit in Triple-A for much longer,” Odoardi added. Rafaela, who signed an eight-year, $50 million extension with the Red Sox last April, is hitting .205 with a .484 OPS in 43 plate appearances this season.