A dream is coming true for a Red Sox rising star! Roman Anthony, a promising outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, has officially been named to Team USA's roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. This prestigious international tournament is a massive opportunity for any player, and Anthony is stepping in to fill a crucial spot.
Here's the scoop: Anthony's inclusion was confirmed on Monday morning, and he'll be taking the place of Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll. Unfortunately for Carroll, a broken hamate bone will sideline him for several weeks, opening the door for Anthony.
"It's something you dream of as a kid," Anthony shared with reporters, reflecting on the moment he received the call. While he expressed sincere well wishes for Carroll's swift recovery, the excitement of this unexpected opportunity was palpable. He mentioned that word of him being considered began circulating shortly after Carroll's injury, and he received the official confirmation from USA manager Mark DeRosa late Sunday night.
"Obviously it’s one of those calls that pops up and you kind of light up," Anthony admitted. He emphasized how incredible it is to even be considered among such an elite group of players, calling it a "blessing" he eagerly anticipates.
But here's where it gets truly exciting: Anthony won't be just any player on the roster; he'll be joining a veritable "who's who" of baseball's biggest stars. Imagine sharing the field with talents like Yankees captain Aaron Judge, the electrifying shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. from the Royals, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, and former Red Sox slugger Alex Bregman. On the pitching side, the team boasts reigning Cy Young winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, as well as Anthony's Red Sox teammate Garrett Whitlock.
"It’s amazing. Just getting to be around those guys and that opportunity to be around the game’s best and so many veteran guys that have done it for such a long time," Anthony remarked. He sees it as an invaluable learning experience, all while keeping the team's ultimate goal – winning the tournament – firmly in sight.
And this is the part most people miss: Anthony is particularly looking forward to reuniting with Alex Bregman. Bregman, who served as a mentor to the young outfielder during his time in Boston last season before moving to the Chicago Cubs, reached out to Anthony after hearing about the injury. "He reached out when it happened and we talked over the phone, he wanted to see where I was at and just kind of check in," Anthony explained. "Obviously it will be a great opportunity to take the field with him again."
While Anthony hasn't received extensive details about his specific role, he's been informed he'll primarily be playing left field. He's set to join Team USA in early March to begin preparations for their tournament opener against Brazil on March 6th.
This marks the 12th Red Sox big leaguer to commit to the World Baseball Classic. Beyond Whitlock on Team USA, other Red Sox players participating include: Ranger Suarez and Wilyer Abreu (Venezuela), Willson Contreras (Venezuela), Brayan Bello (Dominican Republic), Jarren Duran (Mexico), Ceddanne Rafaela (Netherlands), Masataka Yoshida (Japan), Greg Weissert (Italy), Jovani Moran (Puerto Rico), and Nate Eaton (Great Britain).
What do you think about Roman Anthony's inclusion? Is this a sign of the Red Sox's growing talent pool, or do you believe other players were more deserving? Share your thoughts below!
