Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter just named Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony as the club's prime candidate for a major leap forward this season.
Reuter pointed to Anthony's impressive 2025 rookie performance despite limited action. In 71 games, the 21-year-old posted a 140 OPS+, slashed .292/.396/.463, collected 27 extra-base hits, including eight home runs, and accumulated 3.1 WAR. His impact extended beyond personal stats: the Red Sox compiled a 44-27 record (.620 winning percentage) when he played, compared to 45-46 (.494) without him.
An oblique strain ended Anthony's year early and kept him out of the postseason, but Reuter suggests the team's trajectory might have shifted differently with him available. Reuter described the young outfielder as someone who "checks all the boxes to be a future superstar."
Additionally, Reuter predicted that Anthony's first All-Star selection will come in 2026.
Reuter also made predictions for the rest of the American League East, identifying Jose Caballero (New York Yankees), Samuel Basallo (Baltimore Orioles), Justyn-Henry Malloy (Tampa Bay Rays), and Ernie Clement (Toronto Blue Jays) as leading breakout candidates at the plate.
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