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Red Sox star Roman Anthony is being predicted to win AL MVP this season
The Boston Red Sox lost 3-2 to the San Diego Padres on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park. With the score tied at 2-2 in the ninth inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. connected on a fastball and drove it to deep center for a double. Ramón Laureano then poked it into left-center to drive in the go-ahead run. The Red Sox dropped to 2-7 on the season.
The go-ahead run scored on a play that highlighted an ongoing concern. Roman Anthony’s relay throw missed the target, giving Tatis enough time to cross the plate.
Before Saturday’s game, Alex Cora had already been asked about Anthony’s defense. His answer was direct.
Cora on Anthony’s Defensive Struggles
Cora acknowledged that Anthony’s footwork in the outfield has not been where it needs to be through the early part of the season. He was honest about it without being harsh.
“There’s a few things we have to be better with defensively,” Cora said. “And the kid knows it…The other day, there was a play where (Carlos) Correa was at second and there was a base hit to left and we have to throw him out. He knows it. We have to improve. It’s not only him. It’s everybody.”
The result has been a shift in Anthony’s role for the Red Sox over the last two games. The coaching staff has slotted him in as the designated hitter while Jarren Duran takes over in left field at Fenway.
“Jarren plays the wall really, really well here,” Cora said. “There’s stuff we have to improve as a group and that’s part of Roman’s development.”
The arm strength has drawn scrutiny from fans around the league. A handful of his throws home have bounced before reaching the catcher. Saturday’s ninth-inning error was the most costly example. The ball never reached its target cleanly and the go-ahead run crossed the plate.
Manager Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
What This Means for Anthony’s Role
None of this changes the fact that Anthony remains in the lineup daily. The Red Sox view him as a cornerstone of the franchise and his bat stays in the order regardless of whether he’s in the outfield or as DH.
Boston’s outfield depth provides the flexibility to manage his development without removing him from the action. Duran, Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Masataka Yoshida give the coaching staff options at every spot.
Cora framed the entire conversation as part of Anthony’s growth. Not a demotion. Not a punishment. A young player learning what it takes to be a complete major leaguer. The defense will come with reps and time. Anthony is still only 21 years old.
GettyRoman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Red Sox Continue to Search for Answers
The loss dropped Boston to 2-7. The lineup has struggled to start the season. Cora called on his hitters to chase fewer pitches and slow things down at the plate after Saturday’s game.
The pitching staff has kept the Red Sox competitive in recent outings. Sonny Gray was sharp in Friday’s home opener win. The bullpen has been solid outside of Aroldis Chapman’s ninth-inning collapse on Saturday.
Boston wraps up the San Diego series on Sunday afternoon. The early record is ugly but the season is young.
GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 04: Aroldis Chapman #44 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 04, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Red Sox
Anthony’s defense needs some polish. Cora said it, and Anthony knows it. The footwork and the throwing will improve with coaching and repetition.
What matters more is what Anthony represents. He is the future of this lineup. His bat, his athleticism, and his ceiling are exactly what the Red Sox are building around. The early struggles will not define his career.
The development continues. So does the belief in what Anthony is going to become.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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