Red Sox's Roman Anthony receives bold prediction ahead of Opening Day

MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 15: Roman Anthony #3 of Team United States rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against Team Dominican Republic during the fourth inning at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gene Wang – Capture At Media/Getty Images)

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By Shaun McAvoy

Contributing Sports Writer

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The Boston Red Sox bolstered their roster this offseason, but their lineup still revolves around 21-year-old phenom Roman Anthony.

Anthony was the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball last season before being called up to the big leagues following the Rafael Devers trade, and he lived up to expectations. The young outfielder had a breakout season in Boston, slashing .292/.396/.463 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs before an oblique injury cut his season short. Still, he performed so well that the Red Sox already handed him an eight-year, $130 million contract extension.

Now with a whole season ahead of him, The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey made the bold prediction that Anthony would close out this season as one of the top three players in the race for American League MVP.

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MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Roman Anthony #3 of Team United States rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against Team Dominican Republic during the fourth inning at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images)

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“Anthony, who turns 22 in May, has a chance to show for the first time what he’s capable of over the course of a full season,” McCaffrey wrote Thursday. “In 71 games last year, he hit .292 with an .859 OPS and eight homers before an oblique injury ended his rookie season early.

"Still, he finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting and worked this offseason to ensure the oblique issues are in the past. He is, without a doubt, the key to the Red Sox offense, which is why manager Alex Cora has him leading off. Finishing within the top three of AL MVP doesn’t even seem like a far-fetched prediction for Anthony at this point.”

Anthony is already being recognized for his talents as one of the better players in baseball, joining Team USA to compete in the World Baseball Classic, where he mashed two home runs and drove in seven runs in seven games.

If Anthony maintains his high level of play across a whole season while leading the Red Sox, McCaffrey's prediction could quickly become a lot less bold a claim.