Anthony is set to participate in the World Baseball Classic.
Boston Red Sox star-in-the-making Roman Anthony is set to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic as long as he can pass a physical, according to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe.
Anthony was not on the original Team USA roster, but was listed as a possible candidate once Corbin Carroll was injured at spring training earlier this week. Carroll fractured his hamate bone and will miss the tournament.
Anthony will become the sixth Red Sox' outfielder to leave for the WBC, joining Ceddanne Rafaela (Netherlands), Jarren Duran (Mexico), Nate Eaton (Great Britain), Wilyer Abreu (Venezuela) and Masataka Yoshida (Japan).
About Anthony
The top prospect in baseball at the time of his promotion in 2025, Anthony could quickly turn into one of the best hitters in the entire league. In 257 at-bats last season for the Red Sox, he hit .292 with eight homers, 32 RBIs and four stolen bases. He posted a .396 on-base percentage and a 140 OPS+. Unfortunately, he missed most of September - and the playoffs - with an oblique issue.
At just the age of 21, he figures to help anchor the middle of a Red Sox lineup that is working to contend for its first World Series title since 2018.
The thing that's interesting...
Insurance has been a major issue for players trying to play in the World Baseball Classic this time around.
As noted by Yahoo! Sports, insurance has been a problem for players who meet the following criteria:
- Spent at least 60 days on the injured list during the previous season
- Injured for two of their team’s final three games the previous season
- Underwent at least two surgeries over the course of their career
- Underwent surgery following the previous season
Anthony ended the season on the injured list, which, in theory, should make it more difficult to get insurance. We'll have to see if anything comes out on that over the next few days.
Impact on the Red Sox
Well, with no outfielders, there should be plenty of opportunity for Kristian Campbell to play in the outfield. Manager Alex Cora has said that he's going to work in the outfield this spring as the team tries to figure out the best plan forward for him. Beyond that, there will be plenty of minor leaguers and non 40-man roster players that get opportunities.
Impact on Anthony
On the positive side, he'll get an opportunity to experience high-level baseball and to be around established stars. He'll have the chance to learn from their habits and experience the game in a different way. On the downside, with such a loaded roster, it's unclear if he'll get the kind of at-bats he would have received with the Red Sox in the Grapefruit League.
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