Roman Anthony Powers Red Sox Into Playoff Contention

Roman Anthony, the 21-year-old rookie outfielder and former No. 1 prospect, has made Red Sox history as the youngest player since Tony Conigliaro in 1965 to achieve a nine-game hitting streak. Anthony is batting .389 with a 1.044 OPS during his streak, helping Boston surge to a 10-game winning run heading into the All-Star break. His emergence, along with contributions from rookie Marcelo Mayer, has positioned the Red Sox just a few games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. Manager Alex Cora has made Anthony a regular in the middle of the lineup due to his plate discipline and quick adjustment to MLB pitching. The team is now seen as a serious playoff contender in the American League East. With a challenging second-half schedule, Anthony's ongoing production will be vital for Boston's postseason hopes.