BOSTON — Roman Anthony was in Worcester, ready for the 275-mile bus journey that may take him to Allentown, Pennsylvania, for his subsequent Triple-A sport, when WooSox supervisor Chad Tracy advised the group their departure can be delayed as a result of somebody may want to go an hour east to Boston as an alternative.
“I did not actually suppose something of it, to be sincere,” Anthony advised reporters within the Purple Sox dugout at Fenway Park earlier than going 0-for-4 in his main league debut in Boston’s 10-8, 11-inning loss to Tampa Bay on Monday night time.
“I used to be simply sort of ready round within the meals room with a couple of of the fellows, after which unexpectedly, he got here out and simply mentioned, ‘Hey, you are going to the massive leagues,'” Anthony mentioned. “From there on out it is sort of been just a little little bit of a blur. Nevertheless it was superb. You dream of that each single day. So, to lastly hear it was undoubtedly superior.”
Anthony’s MLB debut got here at age 21 years, 27 days; he is the youngest Purple Sox participant to debut since Rafael Devers, who was 20 years, 274 days outdated on July 25, 2017, in keeping with ESPN Analysis.
In Could, Anthony was ranked because the No. 1 prospect in baseball, in keeping with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
Anthony, who performed proper subject and batted fifth, obtained the most important cheer of all throughout pregame introductions after which a standing ovation from the group of 31,422 when he got here to bat within the second inning, with a runner on first and no person out. He popped as much as left subject and received one other cheer as he returned to the dugout.
Within the third, he might have been robbed of his first main league hit when he lined a ball up the center that hit pitcher Shane Baz — at 111 mph. It deflected to the third baseman, who made the throw to first for the out. Anthony additionally struck out trying with runners on first and second within the third and walked within the seventh.
Within the ninth, with the group once more on its toes, he got here up with runners on second and third and hit a tough bouncer up the center for an RBI groundout. He was attributable to lead off the eleventh, however supervisor Alex Cora pinch-hit for him towards left-hander Ian Seymour.
“It was good to lastly take the sector, overlook about all the skin noise and simply be capable of take the sector with the fellows,” he advised reporters afterward. “Unlucky we could not get a win, nevertheless it was a very good expertise — good to simply get the primary one over with.”
Anthony fielded two balls simply in proper subject — a pair of singles within the fourth inning — however within the fifth he let a rolling ball go underneath his glove for a two-base error that led to an unearned run, giving Tampa a 3-0 lead.
“It simply cannot occur,” he mentioned. “It is robust if you lose a sport like that, you’re feeling like that is the explanation we misplaced — little issues like that. Simply received to study from it and be higher.”
A 21-year-old second-round draft decide, Anthony went viral over the weekend when he hit a 497-foot grand slam in Worcester. He batted .288 with 10 homers and 29 RBI in 58 video games in Triple-A this season.
His accomplishments within the minors had Purple Sox followers clamoring for his call-up. However whereas fellow prospects Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer received the decision, the Purple Sox remained affected person on Anthony till an damage to Wilyer Abreu left them needing one other outfielder.
Cora mentioned he seen one thing was mistaken with Abreu after Sunday’s sport towards the Yankees. When the group realized it could be greater than a day or two, they determined to make the transfer and put Abreu on the 10-day injured record with a left indirect pressure. The Purple Sox made room for Anthony on the 40-man roster by designating first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda for project.
“We’re attempting to win ballgames,” Cora mentioned. “The child has executed an incredible job preparing for this second. We’re excited. It is a massive day for the group.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
