Has Roman Anthony forced Red Sox to make call-up decision? Alex Cora weighs in
BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora suggested March 28 that top Red Sox prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer could force their way to the majors this season by dominating at Triple-A Worcester.
Cora said it doesn't have to be an injury on the big league roster that clears a path for them.
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'I think it's the other way — they're gonna push us to make decisions,' Cora said back then.
Anthony, who Baseball America ranks No. 1 on its Top 100 list, has been one of the best hitters in Triple A.
The 21-year-old went deep on a 95.9 mph sinker in Worcester's 8-2 win over Durham on Tuesday. He is batting .322 with a .450 on-base percentage, .520 slugging percentage, .970 OPS, six homers, eight doubles, two triples, 18 RBIs, 33 runs, 37 walks and 38 strikeouts in 42 games (191 plate appearances) for Worcester.
What more does he need to do to push the Red Sox to make a decision?
Cora was asked that question before Boston's game against the Mets on Wednesday.
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'That's a great question. I understand where you're coming from,' Cora said. 'But we are where we're at. Right now we've got some guys here that are playing great baseball. We understand that at one point, I do believe they're going to be part of this. But as of right now, we haven't made that decision.'
How could the Red Sox front office fit Anthony, a left fielder, on this current roster?
Both shortstop Trevor Story and center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela have struggled at the plate. Story has the 22nd worst OPS (.617) among qualified major league hitters. He has one extra-base hit in his past 24 games.
Rafaela has the 30th worst OPS (.646).
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Boston could move Rafaela to a super utility role, slide left fielder Jarren Duran to center field and put Anthony in left field.
That said, Rafaela has been better offensively this month (.281/.305./421/.726, 61 plate appearances). Cora described Rafaela's May as 'interesting.'
'We're still swinging a lot but we're hitting the ball hard,' Cora said. 'All the expected numbers are great. You look at the scoreboard and you're like, 'Eh.' ... We feel offensively it's a competitive at-bat. Last year, he went through stretches. He wasn't this consistent. Let's put it that way. Working hard on his craft. Still making adjustments (with mechanics).'
So the Red Sox could keep Rafaela as an everyday player by moving him to shortstop and making Story a platoon player. In that scenario, Duran again would shift to center field and Anthony would play left field.
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Sure, taking Rafaela out of center field makes the Red Sox worse defensively. Rafaela has the sixth best fWAR (0.9) among Red Sox players — despite how poorly he has hit — because of the value he provides defensively.
But Duran is more than capable in center field, posting 17 defensive runs saved in 810 ⅓ innings there last year.
Rafaela is not a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop at this point like he is a Gold Glove candidate in center (eight defensive runs saved, 380 ⅔ innings). But he probably would provide around the same production defensively as Story has given there.
Story has been an elite defender throughout his career but he's in the 10th percentile in outs above average/range (-3) and the 18th percentile in fielding run value (-2) this year.
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At some point, the Red Sox are going to have to make tough roster decisions. They can't just stand pat as the top prospect in baseball tears up Triple A. He has done what he needs to do to push the Red Sox to make a decision and force his way here.
'I don't say this lightly — I think he's the best minor league hitter I've ever seen," Red Sox first baseman Abraham Toro said earlier this month. 'I think he can be an absolute star in MLB. It just shows what he's doing.'
Toro mentioned Anthony could pull the ball more often. Almost all his extra-base hits have gone to the opposite field and center and that is something that Anthony needs to do a little more.
'If he can pull the ball more often, he'll just be one of the best players,' Toro said.
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