Is Red Sox Rookie About To Unlock His Power Stroke?
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony’s rookie season has showcased elite skills at the plate, but his home run totals lag behind his other numbers.
The 21-year-old — who’s carved out a niche at the team’s leadoff hitter — owns a .280 average, .840 OPS, 32 walks and 23 RBI with just four home runs through his first 62 games.
Anthony ranks among MLB’s best in on-base percentage at .406 and in average exit velocity at 94.4 mph, rare production for any player, let alone a rookie, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. The lack of power this far is not a concern for Anthony.
“I’m a leadoff hitter right now, so I’m trying to do everything I can to get on base. Things like that will happen if you swing at good pitches. I’m not really sweating it,” Anthony said Wednesday before Boston’s loss to Houston, as transcribed by Healey.
Anthony has “the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark anywhere,” hitting coach Peter Fatse said to the Globe. He explained that ongoing work is focused on making contact out front to turn hard-hit balls into airborne damage. More than half of Anthony’s contact comes on the ground, limiting his extra-base potential.
Anthony homered in back-to-back games against Houston after managing just two long balls in his first 50 MLB contests, Jordan Shusterman of Yahoo! Sports reported.
Monday’s homer came off a reliever who had barely been touched by left-handed hitters, while Tuesday’s was part of a rare stat line: a home run and four walks in the same game, making him the third-youngest player in MLB history to do so.
The allure of lofted power is there, but Anthony remains focused on approach.
“As long as I’m swinging at good pitches, making good swing decisions, everything else will take care of itself,” Anthony said, as transcribed by Healey.
At his age, with his skill set, Boston believes the home runs will come.