Sitting down with Roman Anthony
It was some inadvertent word association for Red Sox hitting coach Pete Fatse.
The conversation simply began with the mention of a name, "Roman Anthony ..."
"Stud!"
Fatse couldn't help himself. The Red Sox rookie has left a 200 mph exit velocity kind of first impression on his new big league coach, as is evident when bringing up the outfielder's current existence.
There are just some players who are introduced to the major leagues who elicit such a reaction. Just over a year ago, the honor went to another then-21-year-old James Wood.
"The best-hitting prospect I have been around," said Washington Triple-A hitting coach Brian Daubach just prior to Wood's July 1 promotion. And in case you aren't familiar, this is a guy who lived a similar life with Bryce Harper and Juan Soto.
It turns out, the former Red Sox first baseman was on to something.
Wood has emerged as one of the majors' best young stars, celebrating the announcement that he will be participating in the All-Star Weekend's Home Run Derby with a 5-for-5 game, on Thursday night. He is hitting .294 with a .958 OPS and 23 homers, living in the 97th percentile or better for hard-hit rate, exit velocity, and barrel rate.
Wood lived the life Anthony is currently experiencing, that of a top prospect turned big league first-timer. He is an example of what can be.
"I think it's earned to some extent, but I think once you get up here, it kind of goes out the window," Wood told the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast. "It's cool and all that, but it doesn't help you perform on the field. So I mean, I would just say it's cool to be thought of, highly regarded in that sense, but it's not going to save you. It's not going to hit for you. I mean, you still got to go out there and earn it every day."
The soft-spoken, 6-foot-7 slugger added, "I'll be lying if I didn't say there wasn't, like, some sort of appreciation of what you've been, been doing, what you're accomplishing, because it's not easy. Obviously, they don't just put anybody on those lists. But it's just, it's just temporary."
Now, it's Anthony's turn to learn the lessons.
For the Red Sox rookie, Wood should be his North Star. Sure, there is a similarity in age when first brought up to the majors, with Wood making it to the bigs 21 years, nine months, and 14 days into his life, with Anthony's debut coming at 21 years and 27 days.
But it's how each has kicked off their MLB careers that should merge the conversations. Here is the production through each player's first 80 plate appearances ...
Wood: 16-for-73, .219 batting average, .603 OPS, two homers, 12 RBI, 26 strikeouts, 6 walks.
Anthony: 14-for-70, .200 batting average, .637 OPS, HR, seven RBI, 22 Ks, 10 walks.
Another similarity? They aren't afraid to embrace the struggle.
The two have vastly different personalities, coming from separate parts of the country with their own unique paths. Each had obstacles and bumps in the road, resulting in both falling into the second round of their respective MLB Drafts. For Wood, it was a less-than-impressive senior season at IMG Academy, while there was some doubt that Anthony would be able to hit with enough power to justify playing him at a corner outfield spot.
Ultimately, the two find themselves speaking the same language when it comes to living this new big-league life.
"I just think it's like just your whatever it is, whether it's your approach, like whatever your plan is, how you go about your defense, your hitting base, running. I think you have to fully believe in what you do," Wood explained. "And I feel like, if you have any doubt up here, like not only the guys on the other team, but you eat yourself up, you know? It's obviously something that comes with time. I think there are ups and downs with everybody, and I think especially early on, like throughout the downs, I was sort of down a little bit, but I just think it's just something you sort of got to learn with the struggle.
"I mean, I was, I was lucky enough to struggle, and I struggled in high school. I struggled in pro ball. And, I mean, it's the same here. It's just you're struggling at the highest level, so you're just not really sure at first."
Fortunately for Anthony, the Red Sox have left no room for interpretation in regard to how they feel about him. In the lefty hitter's 20 games, he has hit either second or third 14 times while never being dropped lower than fifth in the batting order.
"It's just one of those things, I think that you just have to, playing at a new level, even in the minor leagues, you just have to experience it," Anthony explained. "There's no way to get ready for it other than to just be yourself and prepare and then, you know, experience it.
"I don't think there's been a time where I've gotten to the box and been like,' 'Wow, I have no chance.'
"Just knowing that, 'Hey, you know me and the guy on the mountain, we're both big leaguers now, and we both are here for a reason. And, for me, just telling myself, 'Hey, you know you belong here, and you're here for a reason. And this guy's at the same level that I am.' Maybe he's done it for 10 years longer than I have, but at the same time, you know, we're both here, and we're both trying to accomplish the same goal, which is to beat each other to help our team."
Sounds good. Sounds familiar.
Maybe a year from now it's Anthony who is announcing his entrance into the Home Run Derby, while passing down advice to first-time big leaguers. As the Red Sox get ready to see Wood in person, it's fair to dream.
"I am so impressed by his level of self-awarness at 21 years old," Fatse said. "It makes me think back to when I was 21. This kid, he's special."