Roman Anthony: From Cooperstown Prodigy to Baseball’s Top prospect
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Roman Anthony’s journey to becoming baseball’s top prospect began long before he turned heads in professional ball. As a middle schooler playing for Todd Fitz-Gerald’s Florida Pokers travel team, Anthony’s talent was undeniable, marked by a historic performance at a Cooperstown summer tournament.
A Cooperstown Legend
Shortly after turning 13, Anthony dominated an annual summer tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y., showcasing his powerful left-handed swing. He etched his name in the record books by hitting grand slams in three consecutive at-bats during a single game,a feat that remains unmatched.
Fitz-Gerald vividly recalls the third at-bat when the opposing pitcher hesitated to face Anthony, leading to a moment of sportsmanship. Despite the score, the opposing coach allowed Anthony the chance to make history, and he delivered by smashing the first pitch over the fence.
“He’s just really good,” Fitz-Gerald remarked, reflecting on Anthony’s consistent excellence.
MLB Caliber Talent
Fitz-Gerald, who had coached future MLB stars like Eric Hosmer, Nick castellanos, and Jesús Luzardo, recognized early on Anthony’s exceptional potential. When Anthony showed interest in Fitz-Gerald’s program at Stoneman Douglas, the coach didn’t hesitate. Although the family lived in West Palm Beach,it wasn’t a cross-country move,it was still life-altering and showed the Anthonys’ commitment and trust in Fitz-Gerald.
According to Tony Anthony, Fitz-Gerald’s old-school approach and genuine investment in Roman’s development were key factors in their decision. Despite the financial commitment of renting a place closer to practice in west Palm Beach during the season and for weekend workouts, the move paid off.
“todd was an old-school, old-fashioned, hard-ass guy,” Tony Anthony said. “He had made some comments to us,too,that weren’t salesy in nature,like ‘Just bring me your kid as I want to win.’ he really was invested in Roman.
“It cost me a small fortune renting a place down there. But at the end of the day,he won a couple state championships,two national championships and Gatorade Florida Player of the Year.So it worked out.”
The Red Sox scout Who Saw Something Special
before Anthony was draft-eligible, scouts frequented his games. Though, it was Red Sox scout Willie Romay who truly connected wiht him. Accountable for signing Triston Casas and Kutter Crawford, Romay stood out for his honest, coaching-like approach, focusing on areas for improvement rather than “blowing smoke.”
“Willie was one of the few scouts that didn’t really give me a scout vibe, which sometimes can be vrey robotic,” Anthony said. “You feel like somebody is always interviewing you, and for me, Willie was like a friend and somebody who was super honest to me from Day 1 and wasn’t really blowing smoke (up) my a–. Told me what I needed to work on, told me what I could get better at, and almost felt like a coaching relationship with Willie and I loved that about him.”
Romay saw anthony’s willingness to be critiqued and improve as a sign of a good player. He advised Anthony to work on driving the ball to all fields,preparing him for future challenges. Weeks later, Anthony demonstrated his commitment by showing Romay the drills he had implemented to address the feedback.
“A sign of a good player is they’re able to get critiqued and work at it, not everybody does that,” Romay said. “I remember having a conversation with Roman and he’s like, ‘Willie, what do I need to work on that I can be better at? What’s good in my game and what needs to be better?’”
Draft Day and a Lucrative Deal
Despite some swing-and-miss issues during the summer before his senior year, Romay championed Anthony during the 2022 draft. The Red Sox, strategically targeting Anthony, selected him with the No. 79 pick, offering a $2.5 million signing bonus,exceeding expectations and highlighting their belief in his potential.
Five of Anthony’s teammates from the Canes National showcase team were taken in the first two rounds of that draft. Another one of Anthony’s closest friends, Jackson Holliday, went No. 1.
The Road to the Majors
anthony’s path through the minor leagues included early struggles at Low-A Salem,but his perseverance and adjustments led to a breakout performance at High-A Greenville.Before earning a promotion to Double-A and Triple-A.His success continued into Triple-A Worcester,where he further solidified his status as a top prospect.
It took Roman Anthony 7 games to record his first 4-hit game at Triple-A.
One of those 4-hits: his first Triple-A home run. pic.twitter.com/RRZpfVlUIF
— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) August 21, 2024
His transition was eased by close relationships with fellow prospects Kyle Teel, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, creating a supportive environment. He ended 2024 hitting .344 with a .983 OPS in 35 games in Triple-A Worcester.
Staying Grounded Amidst the Hype
Despite the accolades and top prospect status, Anthony remains humble and focused on continuous improvement. He understands the challenges ahead and is preparing for the demands of playing in a major league market like Boston.
“Quite honestly with all the fanfare from the rankings and all that stuff he ignores it,” Tony Anthony said. “He always says, ‘It’s great to be where I am and get the accolades, but I’ve never taken an at-bat in the big leagues so it really doesn’t mean anything in the clubhouse.’ I think he truly believes that and I think that motivates him.”
Spring Training and the Anticipation of a Debut
Invited to big-league camp this spring, Anthony is getting a taste of life in the majors. In six spring games, he went 4-for-13 with a double, four walks and just one strikeout. While acknowledging the potential for struggles, he’s excited to embrace the challenge and contribute to the Red Sox’s success.
Reflecting on his journey, senior director of player development Brian Abraham notes Anthony’s maturity and talent, recognizing the unique qualities that have propelled him to the top.
“Sometimes, you’re like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe this kid is 20 years old,’” senior director of player development Brian Abraham said. “I don’t want to say it’s a surprise, but I’d say it’s unique without a doubt. Not all 20-year-olds act that way, but also not all 20-year-olds have the talent that he has.”
Here are two PAA-related questions based on the article:
Roman Anthony: From Cooperstown Prodigy to Baseball’s Top prospect
FORT MYERS, Fla.— Roman Anthony’s journey to becoming baseball’s top prospect began long before he turned heads in professional ball. As a middle schooler playing for Todd Fitz-Gerald’s Florida Pokers travel team, Anthony’s talent was undeniable, marked by a historic performance at a Cooperstown summer tournament.
A Cooperstown Legend
Shortly after turning 13, Anthony dominated an annual summer tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y., showcasing his powerful left-handed swing. He etched his name in the record books by hitting grand slams in three consecutive at-bats during a single game,a feat that remains unmatched.
Fitz-Gerald vividly recalls the third at-bat when the opposing pitcher hesitated to face Anthony, leading to a moment of sportsmanship. Despite the score, the opposing coach allowed Anthony the chance to make history, and he delivered by smashing the first pitch over the fence.
“He’s just really good,” Fitz-Gerald remarked, reflecting on Anthony’s consistent excellence.
MLB Caliber Talent
Fitz-Gerald, who had coached future MLB stars like Eric Hosmer, Nick castellanos, and Jesús Luzardo, recognized early on Anthony’s exceptional potential.When anthony showed interest in Fitz-Gerald’s program at Stoneman Douglas, the coach didn’t hesitate.Even though the family lived in West Palm Beach,it wasn’t a cross-country move,it was still life-altering and showed the Anthonys’ commitment and trust in Fitz-Gerald.
According to Tony Anthony, Fitz-Gerald’s old-school approach and genuine investment in Roman’s development were key factors in their decision. Despite the financial commitment of renting a place closer to practice in west Palm Beach during the season and for weekend workouts, the move paid off.
“todd was an old-school, old-fashioned, hard-ass guy,” Tony anthony said. “He had made some comments to us,too,that weren’t salesy in nature,like ‘Just bring me your kid as I wont to win.’ he really was invested in Roman.
“It cost me a small fortune renting a place down there. But at the end of the day,he won a couple state championships,two national championships and Gatorade Florida Player of the Year.So it worked out.”
The Red Sox scout Who Saw Something Special
before anthony was draft-eligible, scouts frequented his games. Though,it was Red Sox scout Willie Romay who truly connected wiht him. Accountable for signing triston Casas and Kutter Crawford, Romay stood out for his honest, coaching-like approach, focusing on areas for betterment rather than “blowing smoke.”
“Willie was one of the few scouts that didn’t really give me a scout vibe, which sometimes can be vrey robotic,” Anthony said. “You feel like somebody is always interviewing you, and for me, Willie was like a friend and somebody who was super honest to me from Day 1 and wasn’t really blowing smoke (up) my a–. Told me what I needed to work on, told me what I could get better at, and almost felt like a coaching relationship with Willie and I loved that about him.”
Romay saw anthony’s willingness to be critiqued and improve as a sign of a good player. He advised Anthony to work on driving the ball to all fields,preparing him for future challenges.Weeks later, Anthony demonstrated his commitment by showing Romay the drills he had implemented to address the feedback.
“A sign of a good player is they’re able to get critiqued and work at it, not everybody does that,” Romay said. “I remember having a conversation with Roman and he’s like, ‘Willie, what do I need to work on that I can be better at? What’s good in my game and what needs to be better?’”
Draft Day and a Lucrative Deal
despite some swing-and-miss issues during the summer before his senior year, Romay championed Anthony during the 2022 draft. The Red Sox, strategically targeting Anthony, selected him with the No. 79 pick,offering a $2.5 million signing bonus,exceeding expectations and highlighting their belief in his potential.
Five of Anthony’s teammates from the Canes National showcase team were taken in the first two rounds of that draft. Another one of Anthony’s closest friends, Jackson Holliday, went No. 1.
The Road to the Majors
anthony’s path through the minor leagues included early struggles at Low-A Salem,but his perseverance and adjustments led to a breakout performance at High-A Greenville.Before earning a promotion to Double-A and Triple-A.His success continued into Triple-A Worcester,where he further solidified his status as a top prospect.
It took Roman Anthony 7 games to record his first 4-hit game at Triple-A.
One of those 4-hits: his first Triple-A home run. pic.twitter.com/RRZpfVlUIF
— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) August 21, 2024
His transition was eased by close relationships with fellow prospects Kyle Teel, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, creating a supportive habitat.He ended 2024 hitting.344 with a .983 OPS in 35 games in Triple-A Worcester.
Staying Grounded Amidst the Hype
Despite the accolades and top prospect status, Anthony remains humble and focused on continuous improvement. He understands the challenges ahead and is preparing for the demands of playing in a major league market like Boston.
“Quite honestly with all the fanfare from the rankings and all that stuff he ignores it,” Tony Anthony said. “He always says, ‘It’s great to be where I am and get the accolades, but I’ve never taken an at-bat in the big leagues so it really doesn’t mean anything in the clubhouse.’ I think he truly believes that and I think that motivates him.”
spring Training and the Anticipation of a Debut
Invited to big-league camp this spring, anthony is getting a taste of life in the majors. In six spring games, he went 4-for-13 with a double, four walks and just one strikeout. While acknowledging the potential for struggles, he’s excited to embrace the challenge and contribute to the Red Sox’s success.
Reflecting on his journey,senior director of player development Brian Abraham notes Anthony’s maturity and talent,recognizing the unique qualities that have propelled him to the top.
“Sometimes, you’re like, ‘wow, I can’t believe this kid is 20 years old,’” senior director of player development Brian Abraham said. “I don’t want to say it’s a surprise, but I’d say it’s unique without a doubt. Not all 20-year-olds act that way, but also not all 20-year-olds have the talent that he has.”
Roman Anthony Q&A
Q: What made Roman Anthony stand out at such a young age?
A: His performance at the Cooperstown summer tournament was legendary. Hitting three consecutive grand slams in one game is a feat that showcases an exceptional level of power and skill for his age.
Q: How critically important was his coach, Todd Fitz-Gerald, in his development?
A: Fitz-Gerald played a pivotal role, providing top-tier coaching and instilling a strong work ethic. He also recognized Anthony’s immense potential early on, helping him refine his skills and prepare for the next level.
Q: What role did Red Sox scout Willie Romay play in Anthony’s journey?
A: Romay’s honest and coaching-focused approach stood out. He provided constructive criticism and helped Anthony identify areas for improvement, fostering a strong player-scout relationship built on trust and mutual respect.
Q: How has Anthony handled the pressure of being a top prospect?
A: He has remained remarkably grounded, focusing on continuous improvement and ignoring the hype. His maturity and dedication to his craft are key to his success.
Q: What are Anthony’s strengths?
A: Power hitting,willingness to be critiqued and improve,and a strong work ethic. He also has a good approach to the game and a supportive environment around him.
Q: What are some of the challenges Anthony might face?
A: Adjusting to major league pitching and handling the pressures of playing in a large market like Boston.
Q: What’s next for Roman Anthony?
A: Continuing to make adjustments, embracing the challenges of the major leagues, and contributing to the red Sox’s success. Fans are eager to see his debut and watch his career unfold.
Trivia: Roman Anthony’s Cooperstown performance is still talked about, and some believe it to be one of the greatest achievements in youth baseball history.Anthony’s approach to the game reflects the values instilled by his coaches,emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and improvement.
Anthony’s story is a testament to hard work, great coaching, and the importance of staying focused. Keep an eye on this rising star, and you might witness the birth of a future baseball legend.
