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.
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.
The homer from the big left-handed hitter came on the one-week anniversary of his promotion to the Major Leagues.
It also came on a day the Red Sox were starting life without Devers, their signature player the last several seasons.