Keith Regulation: Crimson Sox’ Roman Anthony ‘may be the largest breakout prospect’ in baseball

Crimson Sox

“The Sox deserve credit score for taking what was already swing and turning it into probably the greatest within the minors.”

Roman Anthony ended his season in Double-A Portland.
Roman Anthony is not going to flip 20 till Might 2024. Salem Crimson Sox

The Crimson Sox’ farm system has been anchored by acquainted names like Marcelo Mayer, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Miguel Bleis during the last 12 months.

However no Boston prospect’s inventory has risen extra over the summer season than 19-year-old outfielder Roman Anthony.

In his first full season of professional ball, Anthony superior from low-A Salem all the best way to Double-A Portland, slashing .272/.403/.466/.869 over 106 video games with 14 residence runs and 64 RBI.

Anthony, who gained’t flip 20 till Might 2024, will doubtless begin subsequent season with Portland and has accelerated his timeline as much as the massive leagues briefly order.

The 2022 second-round choice’s speedy rise has caught the eye of a number of MLB prospect evaluators, together with Keith Regulation of The Athletic.

In Regulation’s newest minor-league pocket book, the longtime baseball scribe supplied up excessive reward for Anthony and his potential as an influence bat on the subsequent degree.

“Outfielder Roman Anthony isn’t simply Boston’s breakout prospect this 12 months, he may be the largest breakout prospect in the entire minors,” Regulation wrote on Monday. 

Regulation ranked Anthony twelfth general inside Boston’s farm system coming into the 2023 season, with many nationwide prospect rankings omitting the teenager outfielder from their high 100 lists after solely enjoying 20 complete video games within the Crimson Sox group in 2022.

However after a scorching stretch with each Excessive-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, Anthony is now the Thirty fifth-ranked prospect in baseball, in response to MLB.com. 

Throughout their midseason rankings replace, Baseball Prospectus even tabbed Anthony because the No. 9 prospect in baseball, even forward of Mayer (No. 10).

Regardless of batting .228 with only one residence run and 18 RBI over 42 video games with Low-A Salem, Anthony’s exit velocity and bat pace supplied up hope that his numbers on the plate have been going to rebound.

All it took was a promotion as much as Greenville to see these outcomes play out. Because the youngest participant in Excessive-A ball, Anthony batted .294 with a .412 on-base proportion, .981 OPS, 12 homers, 38 RBIs and 41 runs over 54 video games.

His spectacular play in opposition to elevated competitors prompted Boston to advertise Anthony to the Sea Canines over the ultimate weeks of Portland’s season.

In a 10-game pattern measurement, Anthony batted .343 with 4 doubles, one residence run and eight RBI with the Sea Canines. In his 44 plate appearances in opposition to Double-A pitching, Anthony labored eight walks and solely struck out twice.

Regulation managed to catch Anthony and the Sea Canines shortly earlier than their 2023 marketing campaign wrapped.

“The Sox deserve credit score for taking what was already swing and turning it into probably the greatest within the minors, and possibly the very best I’ve seen in individual all 12 months,” Regulation wrote. “They’ve loosened Anthony up on the plate, from his setup, the place his palms are extra free, to his precise swing, the place his lead arm stays barely bent so he doesn’t lose contact high quality or bat pace at his follow-through.

When individuals speak about fairly left-handed swings, they imply this. That wouldn’t imply a lot with no robust eye, however Anthony has already proven wonderful plate self-discipline and protection for his age, together with very low chase charges, particularly earlier than he will get to 2 strikes. I solely noticed three at-bats earlier than the rains got here, however I obtained a number of swings that have been picture-perfect together with two onerous line-drive doubles to middle area.”

With Mayer, Anthony and catcher Kyle Teel all anticipated to open the 2024 marketing campaign with Portland, the Crimson Sox could not have to attend very lengthy for some blue-chip kids to start out pushing for taking part in time up within the large leagues.