As the 2026 season approaches, one of the most encouraging offseason developments for the Boston Red Sox is Roman Anthony's significant progress.
The 21-year-old outfielder, and MLB #1 overall prospect in 2025, reportedly added about 15 lbs of muscle this winter, a shift that could have a major impact on his individual performance.
Anthony's rookie season, though impressive, revealed a player still growing into his body and his role in the majors. In 71 games with Boston, he recorded a .292 batting average, with an .859 OPS, showing excellent plate discipline and the ability to put together advanced at-bats at a young age.
Roman Anthony Growing into Player Red Sox Need Him to Be
Adding strength during the offseason unlocks more power and durability while preserving the natural hitting skills that made him elite in the first place. Scouts have long believed Anthony has the profile of a .300 hitter with 30-home-run power. But before he could fully tap into that potential, he needed to finish physically filling out his 6'3" frame.
The extra muscle will also help him stay healthy over a full 162-game season. Anthony's 2025 was cut short by a tough oblique strain that sidelined him for weeks down the stretch. Ideally, this would help prevent that from occurring again this season.
A stronger, more resilient body decreases injury risk and helps a younger player like Anthony handle the grind of a 162-game season. That's critical for a team like Boston that envisions him as a cornerstone bat in the lineup.
Offensively, increased strength should translate into better exit velocities and harder contact, contributing to more extra-base hits and home runs. It's the type of play that turns good hitters into great run producers.
In AAA Worcester and early in his Red Sox tenure, Anthony already demonstrated elite contact skills and gap power, including a memorable 497-foot home run that was one of the longest hit balls in all of baseball in 2025. With additional muscle, that long-ball potential becomes even more realistic and consistent. That, in turn, would help Boston solve its pressing offensive issue, a lack of consistent power production from the top of the lineup.
The Baltimore Orioles have Pete Alonso, the Toronto Blue Jays have Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the New York Yankees have Aaron Judge, and the Tampa Bay Rays have Junior Caminero as their consistent power bats.
Triston Casas was supposed to be that piece, but he hasn't stayed healthy for a full season. Trevor Story could also be that piece, but he's never been consistent enough to do so, even back in his Colorado Rockies days. Boston needs a bona fide hitter that can produce, and that piece can very well be Anthony.
Defensively, too, a stronger frame can help Anthony read and react in the outfield with greater authority, contributing to run prevention, as well as run creation. For a Red Sox team that has leaned heavily on its pitching and defense, adding offensive muscle from within the roster, particularly from a homegrown star, could be the difference between contending and merely competing.
While a player's weight gain isn't the flashiest offseason storyline, it may just be the most important. As Anthony steps into his second MLB season with increased strength and maturity, he could help unlock the next level of productivity both for himself and the Red Sox lineup.