{"id":64805,"date":"2025-06-29T09:00:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-29T09:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=64805"},"modified":"2025-06-29T09:00:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T09:00:01","slug":"red-sox-think-rookie-has-been-outstanding-despite-128-average-on-saturday-his-luck-turned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=64805","title":{"rendered":"Red Sox think rookie has been \u2018outstanding\u2019 despite .128 average; on Saturday, his luck turned"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BOSTON \u2014 Traditional numbers suggest that the first three weeks of Roman Anthony\u2019s highly anticipated big league career have not gone well. Entering Saturday, he was hitting just .128 (6-for-47) with a .548 OPS.<\/p>\n

Yet Anthony, ever-committed to the process of putting together good at-bats, has remained unfazed. That he\u2019s hitting the ball hard \u2014 Statcast reveals he ranks among the game\u2019s best in a short sample size with a 15.6% barrel percentage and a 92.7 mph average exit velocity \u2014 is reassuring. So is the fact his advanced plate approach has led to 15 walks \u2014 and a low chase rate of 19.6% \u2014 so far. There isn\u2019t one member of the Red Sox organization who didn\u2019t believe Anthony\u2019s results were about to catch up.<\/p>\n

They did, Saturday, as the rookie had his first multi-hit game in the majors, tallying two doubles and a single in a 15-1 Red Sox win over Toronto. That Anthony was rewarded with a double on a ball he hit just 77.7 mph \u2014 and later hit another two-bagger off a position player, Tyler Heineman \u2014 suggested that his luck is about to turn. In the eyes of the Red Sox, it was about time.<\/p>\n

“He has been outstanding,\u201c said manager Alex Cora. \u201dThe at-bats have been great. He\u2019s gonna cash in at one point and he\u2019s gonna keep hitting the ball hard because he dominates the strike zone.”<\/p>\n

Anthony, hitting second for the third time in the majors, grounded out in the first, then laced an 108 mph single off starter Chris Bassitt in the second. He scored his second run of the game after a fielder\u2019s choice in the third, then doubled off reliever Paxton Schultz in the fifth. His day ended with a 107.2 mph ground-rule double on a slow slider from Heineman; in all, Anthony was 3-for-6.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always nice when they fall,\u201d Anthony said. \u201cI think just the energy itself today, when we got here today, and as a team all day was great. That translated onto the field. It\u2019s super contagious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anthony\u2019s demeanor in the clubhouse after the game, though, wasn\u2019t one of a young player who had broken out. It was the same attitude Anthony has shown during his rise to prospect stardom \u2014 and so far in the majors \u2014 of being unwaveringly calm.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s probably one of the most mature 21-year-old pro baseball players I\u2019ve ever played with,\u201d said starter Lucas Giolito. \u201cReally good head on his shoulders, very even-keeled. I know up to this point he hasn\u2019t been getting those counting stat results that he\u2019s wanted. But he has been showing a ton of promise, really good at-bats. It\u2019s good to see him do that today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anthony credited hitting coach Pete Fatse and his staff for his good game Saturday, mentioning that the coaches\u2019 constant reminders about a consistent approach have paid dividends so far. He also cited an ability to unplug from the game and focus on hitting while serving as the designated hitter (which he did for the fourth time Saturday) as a factor.<\/p>\n

\u201cSitting there with guys like Fatse and working in the cage when I\u2019m not up and talking to guys like Breg (Alex Bregman) and our hitters, it\u2019s contagious,\u201d Anthony said. \u201cI try to take full advantage of that position. When I\u2019m the DH, I\u2019m just trying to learn as much as I can about all the guys we could possibly face and gather as much info as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Anthony \u2014 the youngest player on the club \u2014 the learning curve should be steep. But by staying measured through high highs and low lows, he has fit in seamlessly so far. Cora said he wants to keep hitting Anthony at the top of Boston\u2019s order \u2014 and didn\u2019t rule out the possibility of some leadoff at-bats in place of the scuffling Jarren Duran. The Red Sox feel like Anthony is ready for any challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201dHe doesn\u2019t get caught up on the homer in Seattle or the double here for his first base hit,\u201c Cora said. \u201dHe\u2019s very consistent. That\u2019s why he\u2019s gonna be really, really good.\u201d<\/p>\n

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