How MLB Analysts Hope Red Sox Incorporate Roman Anthony

The Boston Red Sox have a great problem as Roman Anthony continues to dominate with Triple-A Worcester.

A monster week that included a leadoff home run and a grand slam shot his season batting average over .300 and his OPS over 1.000. His loud contact and high production at the plate are clearly above the level of his opposition and the sport’s top minor-league prospect showed why he’s ready for the majors.

Boston has plenty to consider in roster construction when the team makes the move for Anthony. MLB Network’s Robert Flores, Mark DeRosa and Dan O’Dowd went around the horn on Friday’s edition of “MLB Central” with thoughts on how to break Anthony into a crowded position group for the Red Sox.

“He just keeps hitting homers at the Triple-A level,” Flores said. “What are they going to do with him?”

“We watched this in Baltimore, we’ve watched this in other places,” DeRosa said. “They stockpile all these guys and now it’s like, ‘Where are we gonna play them?'”

O’Dowd backed a popular option of investing Ceddanne Rafaela in a super-utility role and turning center field over to Anthony when he inevitably joins the Red Sox. That’s versatility and Alex Cora certainly embraced that in recent years. If that’s what it takes for Boston to insert Anthony in the lineup, the juice should be worth the squeeze.

“He’s forcing hands,” DeRosa added. “… I could close my eyes, everyone hit and he was making the loudest noises. He’s coming. You have to acknowledge him.”