Every top prospect remembers their draft night, but for Roman Anthony, the memory is less about celebration and more about the disrespect that almost sent him to college instead of the Red Sox system.

When Roman Anthony came into the majors, the expectations for him were high. As Red Sox fans would say, he had done more than enough to prove himself; none of this might have happened if not for his mother.

In a recent interview, Roman Anthony revealed that after he was not picked in the first round of the 2022 draft, he was about to pull out.

“Once I fell out of the first round and saw some of the guys who I had played against (selected), I took it personal,” Anthony recalled.

Roman Anthony entered the 2022 MLB Draft with very high expectations. That expectation was backed by the numbers he had with an average of .520 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs. He had also won back-to-back state titles at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. He was also named Gatorade Florida Player of the Year.

With all this under his belt, he came into the draft thinking that he was going to be a first-round pick.

But despite those numbers, he was not picked in the 1st round.

Anthony said, “You remember everything,” recalling the night that hurt him.

After getting snubbed, Anthony wanted to take his name out of the draft round, as his dad recalled, “He just basically said, ‘Dad, I’m going to Ole Miss,’” and become an All-American, and reenter stronger.

But fate had a different plan.

The Boston Red Sox picked him in the 2nd round. While Anthony still wanted to reject it, his mother, Lori Anthony, convinced him to go play for the Red Sox.

She said, “You’re taking the money for two reasons. Number one, if they’re going to pay you that much money, they’re going to be invested in you… And secondly, spring training is right over in Fort Myers.”

Remembering this decision, his father admitted that it was “the best move he ever made.”

Since choosing the Red Sox, Anthony has justified why he wanted to be a 1st round pick. Against the Astros in August 2025, Anthony delivered a walk-off single. He was a very crucial part of that team, which made it to the Wild Card rounds in 2025.

Roman Anthony finished the season with an average of .292, 8 homers, and 32 RBIs in 71 games. This was before he got injured and had to miss the last part of the season and the postseason.

Now, life has not been all roses for Anthony in 2026.

Roman Anthony has not had an easy start to 2026

With the past behind him, Roman Anthony will be looking to get past the hurdles and get the wheels rolling in the 2026 season.

The Boston Red Sox have opened the 2026 season with a 1-5 record, losing five straight games. They squandered their early momentum after beating the Cincinnati Reds, then dropped two games immediately. A three-game sweep by the Houston Astros exposed pitching issues.

With the Red Sox going back to Fenway Park, it will be the right time for the team to fire.

“It’s always good to be home,” Manager Alex Cora revealed after these losses.

Cora also added that the offense needs to fire, while acknowledging, “We’re 1-5, that’s reality.”

One of the major concerns is Roman Anthony.

Anthony has started the season on the back foot by going 5-22 since Opening Day and was 1-18 at one point.

“I think the last thing you can do is panic… We have so much baseball left,” Anthony showed maturity by admitting that there are still 156 games left.

But Roman Anthony is not the only problem.

Aside from Wilyer Abreu, other hitters have not produced enough runs during the skid. Right now, the team is tied for the worst record in the league. They are standing at a 4.91 staff ERA, ranking 26th, and are tied for 24th in first-inning ERA at 7.50.

Now, with the Red Sox all set to face the Padres and the Brewers in Boston, the whole roster will need to get on its game quickly and cannot afford to fall behind at the start of the season.