Red Sox Debut Top Prospect Roman Anthony Amid Rotation Struggles

The Boston Red Sox called up their top prospect, Roman Anthony, who made his MLB debut in a tough extra-inning loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Though Anthony went 0-for-4 at the plate, he walked once, recorded his first RBI, and showed composure, earning praise from manager Alex Cora for his poise and approach at the plate despite a costly fielding error. The timing of Anthony's promotion has drawn criticism from former MLB executive David Samson, who believes the Red Sox may have started Anthony's service time too early, potentially costing the team financially in the long run. Anthony's debut was expedited by an injury to established right fielder Wilyer Abreu, who was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left-oblique strain, with Cora emphasizing the move was about protecting Abreu. Anthony, a 21-year-old who advanced rapidly through the Red Sox minor league system, joins a young core alongside prospects Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer, as the team looks to inject fresh energy into their lineup. Despite the debut's mixed moments, Boston fans and the organization remain optimistic about Anthony's potential impact.