The Boston Red Sox continue to dip into their Triple-A Worcester roster for reinforcements, but top outfield prospect remains on standby. Despite the team’s struggles—they’ve slipped to fourth in the AL East with a 28-32 record and have dropped six of their last seven—Anthony’s call-up is still on hold, even as other prospects get promoted.
Boston recently responded to a shutout loss against the Atlanta Braves by making a few roster moves ahead of the series finale. Nate Eaton and Luis Guerrero are expected to join the big league club, yet Anthony’s name was once again absent. That decision caught the attention of sports columnist Chris Gasper, who believes the organization views Anthony differently from other prospects.
“I think they see him as something special—he’s not like the rest,” Gasper explained. “He’s the golden child, the one they’re clearly trying to protect. They want him to make an immediate impact when he debuts.”
Gasper contrasted the Red Sox’s cautious approach with Anthony to how they’ve handled other young players. He pointed to Kristian Campbell and Ceddanne Rafaela as examples. Campbell, for instance, has struggled with both the bat and glove this season, posting a .227 average with a -0.5 WAR and 59 strikeouts in 185 at-bats. Meanwhile, Rafaela, though not without flaws—especially his tendency to chase pitches—has performed better, hitting .239 with a solid 1.9 WAR.
The team’s ability to work through Rafaela’s flaws while leaving Anthony in the minors adds to the intrigue. Gasper referenced Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s own words: “It’s trying to win as many games as possible. But also teaching the game.” According to Gasper, balancing development and competitiveness is a tough task—and one few managers in Boston have managed to juggle effectively.
Still, Anthony’s performance at Triple-A makes a strong case for promotion. At just 21, the left-handed hitter is batting .305 over 190 at-bats, with a .500 slugging percentage and a .935 OPS. He’s shown both power and patience at the plate, with 49 strikeouts offset by 45 walks. His minor league résumé includes 40 home runs and 164 RBIs, making him arguably overdue for a shot at the majors.
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