Boston Red Sox
“Whether it’s Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams or Derek Jeter or Big Papi, there are some people that just have the ‘It Factor.'”
Roman Anthony has slugged two home runs so far during the WBC. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
March 16, 2026 | 8:20 AM
3 minutes to read
Roman Anthony only has 71 games of big-league experience under his belt.
But the Red Sox outfielder and ascending star continues to put himself on the map with Team USA during the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Anthony rose to the occasion for Team USA during Sunday’s semifinal bout against the Dominican Republic — clubbing the eventual game-winning solo shot in the top of the fourth inning to lift the Americans to a 2-1 victory.
“When I hit it, I kind of just blacked out,” Anthony told FOX Sports’ Kevin Burkhardt, Derek Jeter, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez during Sunday’s postgame broadcast. “I was, in my head, [saying], ‘Just please go, please go.’”
Anthony’s home run proved to be all that the U.S. needed, as Team USA’s pitching staff limited the Dominican Republic to just one run off of eight total hits — quieting a potent lineup that included star sluggers like Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, and others.
A late addition to Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster, Anthony has proven his value on numerous occasions so far during the international tournament.
Through six games so far, the 21-year-old outfielder is batting .318 with two home runs and seven RBI while sporting a 1.014 OPS.
Despite his lack of MLB reps, Anthony has made quite the impression — especially in the eyes of some of the game’s greats.
“When you see a kid like that, whether it’s Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams or Derek Jeter or Big Papi, there are some people that just have the ‘It Factor’,” Rodriguez said after Team USA’s win. “That kid has the looks, the humility, the size, the power. … He’s very special.”
“I’ve got to tell you, that kid is a student of the game,” Ortiz added. “We are so proud to have him in our organization, and it’s because he does nothing but get better and better and better. This is a kid who came into the league last year, he got injured, and watching his team during the playoffs, and not being able to perform and be with them? That was killing him. I can see it in his face. Glad that he’s healthy this year. He put on a show tonight.”
Anthony has justified the hype over the last year since elevating his stock as one of the top blue-chip prospects in baseball.
His call-up in June helped spark a mid-season surge for the Red Sox, with the poised slugger batting .292 with eight home runs, 32 RBI, and posting an .859 OPS over his 71 games before an oblique strain prematurely ended his rookie campaign.
Now healthy, Anthony is expected to be a key conduit for the 2026 Red Sox in his first full season in the big leagues. He’s already showcasing that talent during this tournament for Team USA.
“Some guys were asking me about you as a player, and I told them that you are the complete package,” Ortiz told Anthony postgame. “You are a great athlete, good listener, your work ethic is at another level.”
Anthony’s poise as he navigates his first years in the majors is also not lost on his U.S. teammates — including seasoned veterans like Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper.
“He’s a stud. He’s so much fun to watch play,” Harper told The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey of Anthony’s approach. “This game is in such a great place with young guys, with so many guys that love the game of baseball. He plays on such a big-market team in Boston. So to be able to have the success in his career this early, it’s been a lot of fun to watch.
“I can’t say enough about him. He works hard, does everything the right way. He’s been a pro. It’s been a lot of fun to watch and play with him.”
Anthony was not the only Red Sox player to step up for the U.S. on Sunday. Reliever Garrett Whitlock delivered in the eighth inning of a one-run game — retiring the side in order (including two strikeouts) while matched up against Soto, Guerrero, and Machado.
Anthony, Whitlock, and Team USA will look to take home a WBC title on Tuesday, as they will take on the winner of Monday’s other semifinal matchup between Venezuela and Italy.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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