Alex Cora compares Roman Anthony to ex-Red Star in leadoff hitter update

Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald on Feb 21, 2026

Published in Baseball

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FORT MYERS, Fla. — An important piece of the puzzle that is the 2026 Red Sox was put into place Saturday morning when manager Alex Cora named Roman Anthony leadoff hitter.

Anthony impressed overall in his 71-game rookie season last year, but he proved an especially strong table-setter. He made 27 starts at the top of the lineup (31 games total), and hit .336, got on base at a .439 on-base clip and slugged .564 with 26 runs and 17 RBIs. He collected 37 hits, including five doubles, a triple, and six home runs, drew 19 walks and struck out 34 times.

As the first at-bat of games, specifically, Anthony went 8 for 25 (.320) with two home runs, a walk and seven strikeouts.

“I felt really comfortable in the leadoff spot last year,” Anthony said. “I think it’s something for me that I take with a lot of pride, getting the boys going, and trying to get on base.”

Anthony will celebrate his 22nd birthday on May 13. Rarely is a player so young handed such an important role. The most recent Red Sox leadoff hitters younger than 22, besides Anthony last season, were Jonathan Araúz (2020) and Mookie Betts (2014). Other notable 21-and-younger Red Sox who hit leadoff include Dwight Evans, Tony Conigliaro and Bobby Doerr, though it doesn’t happen often. In franchise history, the most games in the leadoff spot by a hitter younger than 22 were Doerr’s 86 in 1937; Anthony’s 31 (27 starts) already rank fourth in franchise history.

According to StatHead, only five players younger than 22 have spent more than 100 games in the leadoff spot, in single or cumulative seasons, since 2000: Carl Crawford, Elvis Andrus, Mike Trout, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Jackson Holliday.

Cora pointed to Mookie Betts as examples of power hitters who’ve found success in the role.

“George Springer, Mookie Betts,” the manager explained. “They’ve done it before, setting the tempo. Kyle Schwarber, too. It can be 1-0 very quick, or it’s a quality at-bat.”

“If you can do some damage in that first inning or just score some runs,” Anthony said. “I think that’s huge in a baseball game, kind of changing the momentum. … It’s a huge at-bat. Not one that I ever take for granted, so I’m looking forward to it.”