Boston Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony hit his first major league home run Monday night against the Seattle Mariners, breaking out of an early-season slump in a 2-0 victory at Fenway Park.
Manager Alex Cora moved Anthony to the third spot in the batting order for the first time. The 21-year-old right fielder connected on a slider from Mariners starter Logan Gilbert, who was making his first appearance since returning from the injured list.
Anthony entered the game hitting just .059 through his first six major league appearances since being called up from Triple-A Worcester. The performance had raised questions about the top-rated prospect\'s immediate readiness for big league pitching.
The rookie expressed confidence despite his early struggles at the plate. Anthony maintained that he hasn\'t felt overmatched by major league pitching during his brief tenure with Boston.
\"I haven\'t felt overmatched, so I\'m not worried about it. Just continuing to try and pass the [baton] on to the next guy and find ways on, and I know it\'ll come through here soon,\" Anthony said.
Anthony becomes the youngest Red Sox player to debut since Rafael Devers, who was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. Coincidentally, Devers also hit his first MLB home run against the Mariners in July 2017.
The second-round draft pick gained national attention this month with a 497-foot grand slam for Worcester. He batted .288 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 58 Triple-A games this season.
\"Like I said before the game, this is who we are. We\'re going to use the kids. They\'re going to play,\" Cora said about Boston\'s youth movement.
The Red Sox have won six straight games and nine of 11 during their recent surge.
Via ESPN