Roman Anthony Turns Heads at Red Sox Spring Training - and for Good Reason
The Boston Red Sox made a flurry of moves this offseason - twelve trades in total - but the buzz around Fort Myers this spring isn’t just about transactions. It’s about transformation. Specifically, the transformation of Roman Anthony, who’s stepping into his first full MLB season with sky-high expectations and a noticeably bigger frame.
Anthony, a Rookie of the Year finalist last season, arrived at camp looking like he spent the winter in the weight room - and then some. At just 21 years old, he’s reportedly added 15 pounds of muscle, and while that number sparked some playful skepticism from around the league (including a jab from A’s slugger Brent Rooker), the results are hard to miss. The kid looks ready to mash.
For a Red Sox lineup that’s still searching for consistent home run power, Anthony’s development could be a game-changer. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has already singled him out as one of the few true power threats on the roster. That’s a lot to ask of a player barely old enough to rent a car, but Anthony’s poise and physical growth suggest he’s embracing the challenge.
His swing already had scouts talking last year, but now, with added strength and a full offseason of big-league preparation under his belt, Anthony could be poised to take another leap. Red Sox fans are understandably excited - and if he keeps trending in this direction, they might have a new face of the franchise on their hands sooner than expected.
Red Sox Add More Pitching Depth with Harrison Blum Signing
Even with spring training officially underway, the Red Sox aren’t done tinkering with their roster. On February 12, Boston added another arm to the mix, signing right-hander Harrison Blum to a minor league deal.
Blum is a towering presence on the mound - six-foot-seven and 240 pounds - and while he doesn’t come with professional experience, his college résumé is intriguing. He spent six years pitching between Luther College and Augustana University, putting up a 3.81 ERA with 267 strikeouts over 264.2 innings. The control wasn’t always sharp (112 walks), but the raw tools are there.
This is a classic low-risk, high-upside move. Boston’s pitching depth is already in a solid spot, but adding a guy like Blum gives them another developmental project to work with. Given his size and strikeout ability, there’s something to build on - and the Red Sox have shown a willingness to get creative with arms like his.
Liam Hendriks Gets Another Shot - This Time Back Where It All Began
Liam Hendriks’ time in Boston was brief and, unfortunately, mostly spent on the injured list. Across two seasons, the veteran reliever logged just 13.2 innings in a Red Sox uniform. But now, he’s getting a fresh start - and a familiar one.
The Minnesota Twins signed Hendriks to a minor league deal on February 12, bringing the 37-year-old back to the organization that originally gave him his big-league debut. It’s a full-circle moment for the three-time All-Star, who’s looking to reignite his career after a tough stretch in Boston.
Despite the limited action with the Red Sox (and a 6.59 ERA to show for it), Hendriks’ career numbers still tell the story of a reliable late-inning arm: a 3.88 ERA and 116 saves over 14 seasons. More importantly, he brings a veteran presence and an infectious energy that could be a boost to any clubhouse.
Boston fans never really got to see what Hendriks could do in a Red Sox uniform, but there’s still hope that his story in the majors isn’t finished. If he can stay healthy, he might just have one more run left in him - and the Twins are giving him that chance.