Six years ago in Houston, Astros third baseman Alex Bregman witnessed the rise of Cuban slugger Yordan Alvarez, who had just been promoted after dominating minor-league pitching since arriving in the U.S. in 2016. Alvarez quickly made his mark, slugging 27 home runs as a rookie and maintaining power numbers despite an injury-plagued second season. With a career batting average of .295, Alvarez has been a consistent offensive force.
Bregman now sees a similar trajectory with Boston Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony, comparing Anthony’s recent performance surge to Alvarez’s early impact. The comparison is grounded in Anthony’s growing contributions throughout July, where he’s steadily climbed in batting production while showing versatility at the plate.
Red Sox Rookie Roman Anthony Impresses with Consistent Play
On Sunday, Roman Anthony extended his hot streak by hitting 1-for-3 with a triple and scoring two runs. His overall batting average stands at .267, but his July numbers are more telling with a .315 average, an on-base percentage of .432, and a slugging percentage of .493.
Although Anthony doesn’t yet display Alvarez’s home run power, Bregman predicts a future in the 15-20 home run range annually for the rookie. Anthony’s strengths lie in his speed and ability to hit line drives, demonstrated by 13 doubles so far this season. This impressive skill set makes Anthony a valuable addition to Boston’s lineup.
“Roman has been awesome,” Bregman told reporters, via MassLive.
“Four times on base last night, gets on his first at-bat today and then hits a big triple. He’s doing it. He’s going to be a special, special player. It’s definitely fun hitting in front of or behind him in this lineup. It reminds me of earlier in my career when Yordan Alvarez got called up. That’s my player comp for him.”
—Alex Bregman, Boston Astros Third Baseman
Rapid Improvement Marks Anthony’s July Breakout
Anthony’s season began sluggishly, hitting just .114 over his first 15 games. However, his performance turnaround since then has been dramatic, batting .341 in July. This sudden surge has caught the attention of teammates and opponents alike.
Veteran pitcher Walker Buehler, who faced challenges during his recent outing with 4.2 innings pitched and five walks, praised Anthony’s potential. Boston won Sunday’s game 4-3 thanks to a two-run homer from Bregman.
“I think he’s going to be one of the best players in the big leagues very, very soon,”
Buehler said.
“Personally, I think his brain and obviously the physical stuff everyone can see. But who he is as a person, I think is pretty special. I’ve been around some really good ones. I’ve been around Corey (Seager) and Cody (Bellinger) and seen how those guys progressed through the first couple years of their career. He’s definitely cut from that cloth.”
—Walker Buehler, Boston Red Sox Pitcher
Manager Alex Cora Adjusts Red Sox Batting Order to Highlight Anthony
Anthony also experienced a new role on Sunday when he batted leadoff for the first time this season. Previously hitting in the No. 2 or No. 3 spots, he was moved ahead of usual leadoff hitter Jarren Duran, who dropped to third in the lineup.
Manager Alex Cora explained the decision:
“Roman has done that throughout his career (in the minors), and I feel like today was a good day to try it,”
Cora said.
“JD has been really good with men on throughout the season. So last night after the game, I was like, we should give it a try, see what happens.”
—Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox Manager
Implications of Anthony’s Emergence for the Red Sox
Roman Anthony’s strong July performance signals a potential shift in the Red Sox’s lineup dynamics, injecting speed, on-base ability, and steady power into the team’s offense. Comparisons to Yordan Alvarez underscore Anthony’s budding talent and growing confidence at the major league level.
Veterans like Bregman and Buehler acknowledge that Anthony’s blend of physical skill and mental acuity could make him a cornerstone for Boston’s future success. As he continues to adjust and contribute in new roles, the Red Sox appear poised to capitalize on this rookie’s rapid development during the critical stretch of the season.