The Boston Red Sox returned to the postseason in 2025 for the first time since 2021 but were ousted by the New York Yankees in the Wild Card round after just three games. Looking ahead to 2026, manager Alex Cora plans to rely heavily on young talent Roman Anthony, naming him the new leadoff hitter in hopes of boosting the team’s offense and deepening their playoff run.
Anthony’s Impact and Development in 2025
Roman Anthony was promoted from Triple-A Worcester early in the 2025 season and quickly made an impression with his ability to consistently make hard contact and get on base. He finished the year with a strong .292 batting average, a .396 on-base percentage, and a .463 slugging percentage, while contributing eight home runs and 32 RBIs. Unfortunately, an oblique strain ended his rookie campaign prematurely, preventing him from participating in the playoffs, a loss Cora likely felt keenly.
Accepting the New Leadoff Responsibility
For the upcoming season, Cora intends to place Anthony at the top of the lineup, a move reflecting a growing trend across baseball where teams use their best hitters as leadoff batters to maximize scoring opportunities. Anthony has expressed full support for this role and remains flexible about his position in the batting order, prioritizing the team’s success above all.
“If that’s what A.C. feels like gives us the best chance then I’m all in.”
– Roman Anthony
He further added,
“I ultimately just want to do anything to help the team win. If that’s what AC says gives us the best chance, that’s good for me. I take a lot of pride in getting the boys going and hitting the ball hard.”
Looking Ahead to What Anthony’s Role Could Mean for the Red Sox
Roman Anthony’s new role as the Red Sox leadoff hitter brings cautious optimism as Boston aims to build on last year’s playoff appearance. His combination of power and consistency at the plate could help set the tone for the lineup, ideally improving run production early in games. If Anthony maintains his health and form throughout 2026, the Red Sox could be better equipped to overcome postseason hurdles and contend more strongly against division rivals like the Yankees.
Roman Anthony on batting in the #RedSox leadoff spot this season: "If that's what A.C. feels like gives us the best chance then I'm all in." 😤 pic.twitter.com/tkp9bEsLQy
— NESN (@NESN) February 21, 2026
