Red Sox top prospect focused on making Opening Day roster and not a contract extension
Roman Anthony wants to break camp with the Red Sox and make the Opening Day roster. Baseball’s top prospect is excited for the opportunity to potentially play for the Red Sox sooner rather than later but hasn’t put much thought into a long-term extension with the club.
“Honestly for me, right now, there’s one goal and it’s to make the team,” Anthony said to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier. “Being out here with these guys and these resources, the last thing I want to do is have something take my mind off of that.”
Anthony, Baseball America’s No. 1 prospect, was promoted to the Triple-A Worcester and batted .344 with three homers and 20 RBI in 35 games for the WooSox.
The Sox have never extended a player before they’ve made their big league debut. Of course, the outfielder would entertain the idea of a contract extension.
“There’s a number for everyone. Everyone believes in themselves in different ways, and values themselves in different ways. I value myself very highly,” said Anthony. “I want to be a Red Sox for as long as I can, but it would have to be something for me that was just an absolute no-brainer.
“Other than that, I’m just going to try and do it the good old-fashioned way and try and go out there and just get better every day and not worry about a paycheck. Minimum salary in the big leagues is a lot of damn money, and it’s a lot of damn money to be able to play a kid’s game for a living.
“That’s good enough for me. If something like [a long-term deal] were to happen, it’d be a blessing. But I’m not really worried about it.”
Anthony, who was sick on Monday and was scratched from the game in Sarasota against the Orioles, is enjoying a strong spring at the plate.
In six games, Anthony is 4-for-13 (.308) with one double, three runs, four RBI, and four walks while recording a .885 OPS. The 6-foot-2 and 200-pound left-handed hitter has played in both center field and left field this spring, seeing 22 innings in left.
Once he finally arrives in the bigs, Anthony will profile as more of a corner outfielder.
“Anthony has mostly played center in the minors, but he’s not very rangy and he’s maybe an average runner, so he’s much more likely to end up in a corner, supplanted in center by someone with plus range,” The Athletic‘s Keith Law wrote, adding that Anthony could have “plus defense.”
If Anthony makes the Opening Day roster, he will have more eyes on him than ever and be playing for a team that will be competing for a spot in the postseason. The Florida native is ready for whatever is on the horizon.
“They’re always there, and they hold us to a standard. And I love that,” Anthony said. “I think playing in Boston, you’re playing meaningful baseball 24/7. So just taking on challenges like that is something I’m super excited to be a part of and to learn about when I’m actually there.
“Obviously, I haven’t been there yet, so I can’t speak on it. But it’s something that I’m excited to take on.”
As of now, Anthony is still one of a handful of prospects trying to impress the Red Sox’ front office and coaching staff and will let the contract stuff sort itself out.
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