Red Sox’s Roman Anthony Among Biggest Disappointments in MLB for 2 Reasons

The Boston Red Sox are in the middle of a storm that seems to be getting worse by the week. Sitting at a disappointing 12-17 record, the franchise has already made the drastic decision to fire manager Alex Cora, and the roster is riddled with underperformers. From Garrett Crochet’s alarming underlying metrics to Ranger Suarez looking like a free-agent bust before his last two outings, the list of problems is long. But according to ESPN’s David Schoenfield, no player on the team—and arguably in all of Major League Baseball—has been a bigger letdown than Roman Anthony.

Once hailed as the crown jewel of Boston’s farm system and a future superstar, Anthony has instead become the biggest disappointment among all left fielders in MLB. This isn’t just a slow start; it’s a systemic failure rooted in two specific, glaring issues. As Schoenfield pointed out, the young outfielder is suffering from being overhyped too soon and a lingering back issue that could derail his career. Let’s dive into why Roman Anthony has become the symbol of the Red Sox’s collapse in 2025.

Reason 1: Overhyped Too Soon — The Weight of Unrealistic Expectations

When Roman Anthony burst onto the prospect scene, the hype machine went into overdrive. Scouts drooled over his raw power, elite exit velocities, and a swing that looked tailor-made for Fenway Park’s Green Monster. The Red Sox organization, desperate for a homegrown hero after years of trading away talent, fed the narrative. By the time he reached the majors, fans and media had already crowned him the next Mookie Betts or Carl Yastrzemski.

But here’s the harsh reality: Anthony was never ready for this level of scrutiny. His minor league numbers, while impressive, were inflated by aggressive swing decisions that work against lower-tier pitching. Once MLB pitchers started exploiting his weaknesses—specifically his inability to handle high fastballs and soft breaking stuff away—his production cratered. Through the first 29 games of 2025, Anthony is slashing just .198/.267/.312 with 2 home runs and a strikeout rate north of 28%. Those are not just disappointing numbers; they are replacement-level stats that would get a veteran designated for assignment.

The problem isn’t that Anthony lacks talent—it’s that the organization and the media accelerated his timeline to an unreasonable degree. He was rushed to the big leagues before he had fully developed plate discipline. Now, he’s pressing, trying to justify the hype, and it’s leading to mechanical breakdowns. Every at-bat looks like a battle against himself, not the pitcher. Schoenfield’s assessment is spot-on: “Anthony being overhyped too soon into his career” created a pressure cooker that has shattered his confidence. The Red Sox needed a savior, and they got a 22-year-old still learning how to hit a curveball.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

• Batting average: .198 (down 60 points from his projected .260)
• On-base percentage: .267 (among the worst for qualified left fielders)
• Strikeout rate: 28.4% (well above league average)
• Expected slugging (xSLG): .340 (indicating he’s not even hitting the ball hard consistently)

When you compare him to other young outfielders like Jackson Chourio or Corbin Carroll, the gap is staggering. Those players were also hyped, but they had the minor league reps to adjust. Anthony was fast-tracked, and the results are ugly. The Red Sox front office has to own this failure. They put a prospect on a pedestal before he had earned the right to stand on it.

Reason 2: The Back Issue — A Lingering Time Bomb

The second, and perhaps more alarming, reason for Anthony’s struggles is his recurring back issue. This isn’t a simple tweak or a day-to-day soreness. According to multiple reports, Anthony has been dealing with lower back tightness since spring training, and it has visibly affected his swing mechanics and defensive range. Back problems are notoriously tricky for baseball players, especially outfielders who rely on explosive rotational torque to generate power.

Watch Anthony’s at-bats from the past two weeks. His swing path has become loopy and long. He’s late on fastballs that he used to crush, and his lower half is not driving through the ball. That’s a classic sign of a back injury. Instead of a quick, violent rotation, he’s compensating with his arms, leading to weak ground balls and pop-ups. Defensively, his range has shrunk. He’s no longer covering the gaps with the same burst, and his throws from left field lack the carry they had last season.

The Red Sox medical staff has been cautious, but the fear is that this could become a chronic issue. Schoenfield specifically noted that “the back issue, which might continue to be a concern” is a major red flag. For a player whose entire game is built on athleticism and explosive movements, a bad back is a career-killer. Look at Byron Buxton—when healthy, he’s an MVP candidate. But the injuries have turned him into a part-time player. Anthony is on a similar trajectory if this isn’t managed perfectly.

What the Film Shows

• Reduced hip rotation: His average hip rotation speed has dropped 12% since last September.
• Late bat speed: He’s swinging through pitches he previously crushed, especially 95+ mph heaters.
• Defensive decline: His Outs Above Average (OAA) in left field has fallen from +3 to -2.

The worst part? The Red Sox have no clear replacement. With Jarren Duran already on the injured list and Wilyer Abreu struggling, Boston is stuck with a hobbled Anthony. They can’t send him down to Triple-A to rest and rehab because the roster is too thin. So they’re playing a wounded player, hoping he’ll heal on the fly. That’s a recipe for disaster, and it’s exactly why Anthony is the biggest disappointment in MLB right now.

Expert Analysis: Can Roman Anthony Be Saved?

Let’s be clear: Roman Anthony is not a bust. He has legitimate talent, and his minor league track record suggests he can be an All-Star. But the combination of overhyped expectations and a nagging back injury has created a perfect storm of failure. The Red Sox need to take drastic action before this spirals further.

Step one: Shut him down for two weeks. Even if it means calling up a Quad-A outfielder, Anthony needs to get healthy. Playing through back pain is not a badge of honor; it’s a path to surgery. The Red Sox are not contending this year. There is zero reason to risk his long-term future for a few wins in April and May.

Step two: Rebuild his confidence in the minors. Once his back is 100%, send him to Triple-A Worcester for a month. Let him face weaker pitching, get his timing back, and remember how to dominate. The mental damage from being overhyped can be repaired with success. He needs to see the ball leave the yard again.

Step three: Manage the narrative. The front office needs to publicly lower expectations. Stop calling him a “future superstar” and start treating him like a developing player. The media will follow. If the Red Sox can take the pressure off, Anthony can breathe. Right now, he looks like a kid trying to hit a major league fastball while carrying the weight of a franchise. That’s not fair to him.

My prediction? If the Red Sox handle this correctly—rest, rehab, and a reset—Anthony will be a productive everyday player by the second half of 2025. But if they keep running him out there with a bad back and sky-high expectations, he will flame out. The warning signs are everywhere. The question is whether Boston will listen.

Conclusion: The Red Sox Have a Roman Anthony Problem—And It’s Getting Worse

The Boston Red Sox are in freefall, and Roman Anthony is the poster child for their collapse. He is the biggest disappointment among all left fielders in MLB for two undeniable reasons: he was overhyped too soon into his career, and his back issue is a ticking time bomb. These aren’t just excuses; they are the core reasons why a player once viewed as a generational talent is now hitting below the Mendoza line.

The Sporting News originally broke this story, and the analysis from ESPN’s David Schoenfield has proven to be prophetic. Anthony is not just struggling—he is failing to meet even the most modest expectations. For a Red Sox team that has already fired its manager and sits near the bottom of the standings, this is the last thing they needed.

But here’s the silver lining: Anthony is young. He has time. The question is whether the organization has the patience and the wisdom to fix him. If they do, he might still become the star everyone predicted. If they don’t, Roman Anthony will go down as one of the most overhyped prospects in recent memory—a cautionary tale about what happens when you rush a kid to the big leagues with a bad back and a target on his back.

This article originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.