In a relatively routine pregame media session in Minnesota, there was a quiet tension. Just the day before, on Sunday, July 27, the lineup card against the Dodgers had raised eyebrows. Rookie sensation Roman Anthony opened in the leadoff position, with the manager Alex Cora describing it as a “good day to try it.” Anthony, who was spectacular in that game, got on base twice. He smacked a triple and scored two runs in a tight 4-3 victory. But what looked like a casual Sunday test was only the lead-up to a coronation

On Monday, July 28, Cora addressed the media and made the decision official. Chris Cotillo of MassLive was the first to report that the experiment was over and a new era had begun.

“Roman Anthony is expected to be the leadoff man going forward,” Cotillo wrote on X.

Cora later expanded on his thoughts. “Roman has done that throughout his career (in the minors), and I feel like today was a good day to try it,” he stated. “So last night after the game, I was like, we should give it a try, see what happens.”

When you look at the numbers, the reason for the shift is absolutely evident. Anthony was just the best on-base threat available to Boston at that moment. The rookie had an elite .387 on-base percentage (OBP), which was boosted by a 13.7% walk rate. Jarren Duran, the former leadoff man, was productive but had a more humble .329 OBP. That near-60-point difference atop the order is quite significant.

Cora also cleverly pointed out Duran’s success with runners on, where he posted a fantastic .878 OPS. Such a skill set is perfectly suited to the heart of the order, not the leadoff spot. Now, by shifting Anthony to first and Duran to third, Cora has struck a beautiful balance. He has his on-base machine in position to get on, and then a hitter who has proven he can drive them in.

To appreciate the significance of this, let’s revisit Anthony’s journey to the majors.

Roman Anthony’s journey from minors to majors was swift and rapid

With his minor league numbers, Anthony justified the Red Sox’s investment. He followed up 2023’s Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year by doing more of the same in 2025. With Triple-A Worcester, he recorded a dazzling .423 on-base percentage. The hype came to a boiling point on June 7th, when he hit a massive 497-foot grand slam. The homer was the longest in affiliated baseball at that stage of the season. It was the last, booming signal that he was ready for the big stage.

When he finally reached Boston on June 9, Cora was ready to temper the stratospheric expectations. “It is not as easy of a transition as people think it is,” the manager warned. “But at the same time, man, he’s a good player. We know that.” Anthony himself admitted it was difficult, calling it the “learning curve.” It was all about making “pitch to pitch adjustment.’’

Anthony’s big-league journey began with some growing pains. His debut featured an 0-for-4 night and a defensive miscue. Through June, he experienced a “slow start,” hitting into some tough luck despite solid contact. Reporters even began to question if he should be benched against left-handed pitchers. However, Cora held firm.

And then the calendar turned to July, and Anthony flipped a switch. He went off, hitting a scorching. 315 with a dominant. 925 OPS for the month. This amazing turnaround wasn’t just a personal comeback; it sparked team success. The Red Sox rode his hot bat to a sensational 15-6 record in July—their best stretch of the season. Anthony had single-handedly shifted the momentum of the season, providing Cora all the evidence he needed to give his young star the keys to the offense.