Inside The Red Sox

Red Sox's Roman Anthony Has Perfect Reaction To Sonny Gray's Yankees Diss

Just what you'd want the face of the franchise to say
Aug 21, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA;  Boston Red Sox right fielder Roman Anthony (19) hits a two run home run in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Aug 21, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Roman Anthony (19) hits a two run home run in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Roman Anthony is the future face of the Boston Red Sox, and arguably the face of the present as well.

After a brilliant debut in which he put up 3.1 bWAR in 71 games in the outfield for the Red Sox, Anthony is gearing up for year two, which is also the first season of the eight-year, $130 million extension he signed just two months into his major league career.

An essential facet of any face of the franchise in Boston is how they compete with the arch-rival New York Yankees. Anthony got off to a great start in that regard with a loud home run in Yankee Stadium in August, and it was a bummer for every Red Sox player and fan that he was injured when the two teams squared off in the playoffs.

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Anthony talks Sonny Gray, Yankees rivalry

Clearly, Anthony will be excited to participate in a second year of this historic rivalry. And the fact that his newest teammate, three-time All-Star and former Yankees pitcher Sonny Gray, had some harsh words for New York will add some spice to the proceedings.

On Thursday, Anthony attended the Italian American Baseball Foundation Gala in the Bronx, and he masterfully backed up Gray without adding any bulletin board material for the Yankees and the chronically online side of their fan base.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm excited to have him," Anthony said, per Michelle Margaux of SNY. "He seems like a competitor. He seems like he's ready to play in Boston and take on the fans in Boston. Obviously, he's done it in a big market before. So it will be exciting to have him and just learn from him as a young guy."

Anthony was then asked if he had any "bold predictions" for the matchups between Boston and New York this year.

"You know, all I'm gonna say is 'Go Red Sox,'" Anthony said with a chuckle.

Our bold prediction, for the record, is that Anthony puts one halfway up the upper deck at Yankee Stadium against ace Gerrit Cole when he makes his return to the mound after Tommy John surgery.

For such a young player, Anthony pretty much always says exactly what the front office would want to hear, but he usually resonates with the fans as well. His expressive grin said all the fans needed to know in this case -- Anthony can't wait to stick it to the Yankees with his play on the field.

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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