SEATTLE – On July 26, 2017, an up-and-coming prospect named Rafael Devers belted his first Major League homer for the Red Sox on the road against the Mariners.
In other words, it seemed fitting that the day after the star slugger was traded to the Giants, Roman Anthony, MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect, smashed his first career big fly over the wall in right-center at T-Mobile Park against Mariners righty Logan Gilbert in the top of the first inning of Boston's 2-0 win over Seattle on Monday.
At 21 years and 34 days old, Anthony became the youngest Sox player to homer in a game since … Devers, who was 20 during the ‘17 season.
“It was awesome,” said Anthony. “It was even better that we got a great win there. So it was great.”
Playing in his seventh career game on Monday, Anthony batted third for the first time as manager Alex Cora posted his first post-Devers lineup.
It is a prominent spot in the lineup for a 21-year-old, but Anthony looked ready for it as he snapped his career-starting, 1-for-19 skid by jumping on a 96.2-mph heater from Gilbert that caught too much plate.
More on Roman Anthony:
• Red Sox call up Anthony for MLB debut
• What to expect from Anthony in The Show
• 'A long time coming': Anthony's teammates ecstatic about his callup
• Getting to know Roman Anthony
• Highlights | Rankings: Top 100 | OF | BOS
Anthony mashed the ball with an exit velocity of 104 mph, and it traveled a Statcast projected 391 feet.
“That got me pumped up for sure,” said winning pitcher Lucas Giolito. “It was a matter of time and he put a good charge into one.”
The homer from the big left-handed hitter came on the one-week anniversary of his promotion to the Major Leagues.
There is a calmness to Anthony that prevents him from being preoccupied by getting just two hits in his first week in the Majors.
“I haven’t felt overmatched, so I’m not worried about it,” said Anthony. “I’m just continuing to try and pass the baton on to the next guy. I know I’ll come through here soon, so it's nice to kind of get that first one out of the way today and look to keep this thing rolling.”
It also came on a day the Red Sox were starting life without Devers, their signature player the last several seasons.
“Like I said before the game, this is who we are,” said Cora. “We are going to use the kids. They are going to play. We’re going to have different lineups. We love the at-bat [of Anthony]. We do. He put a good swing on it. For the game, he did a good job. He’s not getting hits, but the at-bat is real. So we’ll keep going.”
Anthony’s first homer ball landed in a tunnel overhang, rather than in the seats, so the baseball was easily retrieved for safekeeping.
“I usually just give them to my parents and kind of let them do the work, and they'll do the whole little framing and everything,” said Anthony. “So I'll give it to them, for sure.”