The rise of Roman Anthony: Inside Red Sox phenom’s climb toward superstardom

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Sitting at a sun-splashed picnic table outside the home clubhouse at JetBlue Park, Roman Anthony looks at ease in a backwards Boston Red Sox hat. While many teammates packed a bus for the two-hour trip to Bradenton, Anthony has already earned veteran status in Grapefruit League play and had the afternoon off.

His manager trusts him. Fresh off his debut in the World Baseball Classic, Anthony made the all-tournament team as the youngest player on Team USA. The outfielder has already emerged as a dark horse pick for AL MVP.

His three months in the majors last summer were that good. He’s signed an eight-year extension worth at least $130 million and there’s a Lamborghini parked in his driveway. At 21 years old, Anthony’s life looks pretty good.

But with the late morning heat beginning to rise, there is still one memory that breaks Anthony’s tranquility: July 17, 2022. The first round of his MLB Draft. “You remember everything,” Anthony says.