Inside The Red Sox

ESPN Makes 'Bold Prediction' For Red Sox Top Prospect Roman Anthony's 2025 Season

Can the youngster get his career off to a fast start?
Jackson Roberts|
WooSox outfielder Roman Anthony runs off the field following his team's 2-1 win over Lehigh Valley on Aug. 14 at Polar Park.
WooSox outfielder Roman Anthony runs off the field following his team's 2-1 win over Lehigh Valley on Aug. 14 at Polar Park. | WooSox Photo/Ashley Green / USA TODAY NETWORK

In this story:

Boston Red Sox

If there's one thing Boston Red Sox fans can get unabashedly excited about, it's the debuts of their superstar prospects.

The consensus top prospect in the Red Sox organization is Roman Anthony, a 20-year-old outfielder whose bat has carried him through the minor leagues and improved at every level. Some sites consider him the number-one prospect not only for Boston, but in all of baseball.

Because he's still so young, and given the fact that the Red Sox have a deep outfield as is, Anthony isn't expected to start the season at the major league level. So what would a reasonable expectation look like once he eventually debuts?

ESPN prospect evaluator Kiley McDaniel gave his take in an article of "bold predictions" published Wednesday. McDaniel predicted that Anthony would be one of five top prospects to play at least half of the Major League Baseball season and accrue at least 1.5 wins above replacement (WAR).

"Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 2) and Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo (No. 8) rank among the top 10 prospects in the entire sport, so this wouldn't be shocking for them, but neither is expected to break camp with their big league club, so it's unclear how much MLB time they'll get," McDaniel wrote.

"I think both will force their way into roster spots after dominating in Triple-A, and hit the ground running."

Last season, Anthony slashed .291/.396/.498 in 119 minor-league games, and did his best work after his August promotion to Triple-A. There, Anthony managed an incredible .463 on-base percentage with 45 hits, including 16 extra-base hits, in just 35 games.

It's never safe to rely on prospects to come up and produce, but the Red Sox's 2025 ceiling is heavily based on the eventual production of Anthony and fellow top prospect Kristian Campbell when they arrive in Boston.

If Anthony does what he appears to be capable of, the Red Sox could become the scariest lineup in the American League.

More MLB: Red Sox's Suggested Blockbuster Would Land Cardinals' Nolan Arenado In 1-For-1 Swap

Published
Jackson Roberts
JACKSON ROBERTS

Jackson Roberts is a former Division III All-Region DH who now writes and talks about sports for a living. A Bay Area native and a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, Jackson makes his home in North Jersey. He grew up rooting for the Red Sox, Patriots, and Warriors, and he recently added the Devils to his sports fandom mosaic. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Boston Red Sox On SI, please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

Home/Boston Red Sox News