Roman Anthony Arrives Ready to Shoulder the Load for the Red Sox in 2026
Roman Anthony didn’t just show up to Fort Myers-he arrived looking like a man on a mission. The 21-year-old outfielder, already one of the most exciting young players in baseball, reported to Red Sox spring training with a noticeably stronger frame and the kind of quiet confidence that tells you he knows what’s coming. And what’s coming is a season where Boston may need him to do just about everything.
After flashing MVP-level potential during his rookie campaign, Anthony enters 2026 as the centerpiece of a Red Sox lineup that, on paper, doesn’t exactly scream "slugfest." In fact, projections suggest Boston could be the only team in the majors without a single player cracking 20 home runs.
Anthony, Trevor Story, and Wilyer Abreu are all pegged for 18 long balls, and Anthony leads the team in projected OPS at .812. That’s not just a nod to his talent-it’s a reflection of how much this team is counting on him to be the engine of the offense.
That’s a heavy lift for a second-year player. But if Anthony feels the pressure, he’s not showing it.
“That’s fine,” he said Monday at Fenway South. “We have so many great players, so I’m not really worried about that at all. I’m just going to continue to learn from my teammates and find ways to make everyone better.”
That’s the kind of mindset that makes Anthony such a compelling figure in Boston’s rebuild. His tools are obvious-elite bat speed, mature plate discipline, and legit power to all fields.
But it’s his poise that might be the most valuable asset of all. He’s not just trying to be a star-he’s trying to be a leader.
The Red Sox are banking on that. The team didn’t land a big bat this offseason, which means internal growth is the name of the game. And no one embodies that plan more than Anthony.
He earned his call-up in June of last year after tearing through the minors, and he didn’t waste time proving he belonged. In 71 games, he slashed .292/.396/.463 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs before an oblique strain cut his season short in early September. Still, that was enough to earn him a third-place finish in the AL Rookie of the Year voting-and to solidify his status as the face of the franchise’s future.
If he stays healthy in 2026, it’s not far-fetched to imagine Anthony in the MVP conversation. And given the state of the Red Sox offense, they might need that kind of season just to stay afloat in the always-loaded AL East.
There’s been plenty of talk this winter about Boston’s improved pitching staff-and rightly so. But questions remain about the lineup’s ability to produce runs. Anthony, though, isn’t buying into the doubt.
“I think we've got a great squad offensively,” he said. “I haven't really looked into it much as to what people have to say about us, but I think we know what the end goal is, and we know how we're gonna try and piece it together to make everything work.
I think we have a very complete lineup. It just feels very tight-knit in there.
So I think as far as the offensive side goes, I think we’re gonna be just fine.”
That belief matters. And it’s not just optimism-it’s leadership.
Anthony may be just 21, but he’s already carrying himself like a veteran. That’s good news for a team that’s placing a big bet on internal development rather than outside reinforcements.
One wrinkle to watch: Anthony’s slated to suit up for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. That’s a huge honor, and a chance for fans across the globe to see what Red Sox fans already know-this kid is special.
But it also adds a layer of risk for a player the team can’t afford to lose. Given his importance to the roster, every at-bat in March will be watched with a mix of pride and nervous anticipation.
Still, the upside is undeniable. If Anthony takes another step forward-and all signs point to that being a real possibility-he could be the spark that turns a middle-of-the-pack offense into something more. He doesn’t need to do it all himself, but if he leads the charge, it could be the difference between another year of frustration and a return to October baseball in Boston.
The Red Sox are betting big on Roman Anthony. And from the looks of it, he’s more than ready to deliver.