With their final pick on the first day of the draft, the Red Sox took their third high school position player — power-hitting outfielder Roman Anthony at No. 79 overall.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Florida native hits left-handed and throws righty. Anthony is committed to play at Ole Miss next year. He went to Marjorie Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida, but was not yet in high school when the school shooting occurred there.
Red Sox scout Paul Toboni thought he was a significant value at No. 79.
“He’s a tremendous athlete. We think he’s got a really good shot of sticking in center field,” Toboni said. “He’s got this profile where he’s going to get on base. He sees the ball well. He’s got tremendous power potential. That’s a pretty rare combination to find for a center fielder.”
Anthony hit a 450-foot home run as a 17-year-old at a showcase at Coors Field which earned him considerable attention.
MLB.com lists Anthony as its No. 56 prospect with the following analysis.
“Anthony was well-known on the summer showcase circuit and made a big impression at Major League Baseball’s High School All-Star Game in Denver, hammering a 450-foot homer in the exhibition. His stock took a bit of a hit when scouts grew concerned about the swing-and-miss that came with his power, but he started rising up boards over the course of a strong senior year at Florida’s Stoneman Douglas High School. ...There hasn’t been much question about Anthony’s raw power from the left side of the plate, showing it off in batting practice and swinging the bat well at this year’s National High School Invitational. But there were enough questions early about whether he’d hit enough to get to his power to concern many scouts. He’s made more consistent contact as the spring has progressed, moving up boards as a result.”
The Red Sox were picking at No. 79 as compensation from the Tigers, who signed Eduardo Rodriguez last November. Anthony joins Mikey Romero, the Red Sox first-round pick (No. 24 overall) and second-round selection Cutter Coffey among players Boston drafted on Day 1.
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