In the modern era of social media hype trains, rare is the athlete who can actually live up to the billing.
Roman Anthony, though? He has somehow exceeded even the loftiest of expectations placed upon him prior to his MLB debut this season.
The ascent of Boston’s former No. 1 prospect was accentuated on Tuesday night in Houston, when the 21-year-old turned in an ultra-rare stat line with four walks, four runs scored and a home run for good measure. (Anthony did technically strike out on a check swing on a 3-2 pitch in his third plate appearance, though the call certainly could have gone either way.)
According to the Red Sox’ media relations team, Anthony is the third-youngest player since 1901 to have four or more walks and at least one home run in a game, and the youngest to do so since Ted Williams did it for the Red Sox in 1939. Williams was 70 days younger than Anthony when he accomplished that unique feat, and only Mel Ott (at 20 years, 124 days) did it at a younger age.
Barry Bonds turned in that stat line when he was almost a year older than Anthony’s current age.
Anthony also was the first leadoff hitter since at least 1920 to score four or more runs, take four or more walks, and hit at least one homer in a single game.
While that stat line may be a bit of an oddity, it’s merely one of several short lists that Anthony has been joining lately — with most of them filled only with current or future Hall of Famers.
The Red Sox also noted that Anthony became the second-youngest player in franchise history to score four or more runs in a game. Only Bobby Doerr — a 1986 inductee of the Hall of Fame whose retired No. 1 hangs forever in right field at Fenway — did so at a younger age (back in 1938 and 1939).
The Red Sox were happy to share more Anthony stats, including the fact that he has the fourth-best on-base percentage of any player since 1950 through 52 career games at .406. Ahead of him on that list: Willie McCovey (.429), Albert Pujols (.416) and Juan Soto (.413).
That note also stated that Anthony is the third-youngest major leaguer since 1901 to record 30 or more walks and score 30 or more runs in their first 52 games, with only Juan Soto (19 years old) and Jason Heyward (20) doing so at a younger age.
Here’s one more, from former Red Sox media relations manager J.P. Long: Anthony has reach based the second-most times among players under 22 years old in their first 52 games with 89. That’s two fewer than Pujols…