Roman Anthony Cherishes Hitting Lesson From Red Sox Legend

Top Boston Red Sox prospect Roman Anthony had a special guest take in his batting practice session at JetBlue Park on Sunday morning.

It was a Red Sox legend who knows a thing or two about hitting, and David Ortiz was more than willing to pass along some tips of the trade to the 20-year-old outfielder.

Anthony made sure to not only take in all of the experience with the Baseball Hall of Famer, but also heeded Ortiz’s words of wisdom.

“He cares about young players like myself who haven’t even had a big league at-bat yet,” Anthony told The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier. “For him to come back and to just sit there and watch me hit and talk hitting with me, to talk about what he sees and what he likes and what I can get better at, it’s just awesome.

“It’s amazing. It hits a little different when it’s a legend like that.”

Anthony might not have to wait much longer for his first at-bat in the major leagues, though. The 2022 second-round compensatory pick, who is regarded as the best position prospect in all of baseball, is on the cusp of the major leagues after a sensational 2024 campaign, which he finished off at Triple-A Worcester, hitting a blistering .344 with three home runs and 20 RBIs in 35 games.

That production plus Anthony’s immense potential earned him a non-roster invite to big-league spring training this season. He’s held his own, going 4-for-13 (.308) with four RBIs and three runs scored.

Anthony probably won’t start the season in the big leagues once the season commences March 27. The Red Sox have a jam-packed outfield at the moment — Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu are expected to start with Rob Refsnyder and Mastaka Yoshida serving as backups — but Anthony might force Boston’s hand if he tears the cover off the ball at Triple-A again.

All signs point to Anthony being a major factor for the Red Sox in the future. And it’s certainly a good sign that Ortiz took an interest in him, too.