roman anthony delivered an instant statement for Team USA on Tuesday afternoon, launching a towering two-run home run in an exhibition game in Scottsdale, Arizona. The young Red Sox outfielder batted seventh and played left field as the U. S. team rolled to a 15–1 win over the San Francisco Giants. The blast came in the sixth inning and quickly became the defining moment of Team USA’s first exhibition.
Roman Anthony’s sixth-inning shot flips the spotlight in Scottsdale
The decisive swing came with nobody out in the top of the sixth. Cal Raleigh walked to open the inning, and then Roman Anthony got a fastball from right-hander Blake Tidwell and drove it 394 feet into the right field concourse. Statcast measured the exit velocity at 101. 4 mph, underscoring just how cleanly the ball came off the bat.
Roman Anthony finished his Team USA debut 1-for-3, with the two-run home run accounting for his hit and his RBIs. On the mound, the U. S. team leaned on Paul Skenes, who struck out four over three innings as Team USA cruised.
Immediate reactions: teammates and players react on the field
Even before the inning was over, the reaction was loud and immediate. Logan Webb, pitching for Team USA and speaking during an in-game interview, could be heard marveling at the drive as it carried.
“Look at that one, ” Webb said. “I’m really excited to watch this guy too. ”
The inning and the game kept moving in Team USA’s favor. Alex Bregman, a former Red Sox third baseman, added a solo home run of his own as the U. S. side piled on in the lopsided win.
Roster timing and what comes next for Team USA
Roman Anthony’s opportunity arrived late, after Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll suffered a broken bone in his hand, opening a roster spot. Despite having just 71 big league games under his belt, Roman Anthony has framed the moment as an unexpected but welcome chance to represent the country and share a stage with elite talent.
“I’m sure I joked about it, but it’s not really one of those things that I put a timeline on, ” Anthony said last month. “It’s something you think about — like, yeah, I want to do this at some point, whether it’s a few years down the road, 10 years down the road, whatever it may be. ”
“Getting to represent the USA at any time would be more than a blessing, ” he added. “I didn’t necessarily think it would be this time around, but I’m excited to do it and excited to get going. ”
Next on the schedule: Team USA will officially open World Baseball Classic pool play on Friday against Team Brazil.
Elsewhere Tuesday: Ceddanne Rafaela powers the Netherlands in exhibition win
Roman Anthony was not the only Red Sox outfielder making noise in exhibition play. Ceddanne Rafaela starred for the Netherlands in an 8–5 win over the Orioles, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, and five RBIs.
Rafaela’s home run was a three-run shot in the top of the second that put the Netherlands ahead 4–2. He followed that in the third inning with a two-run double in his next at-bat, extending the Dutch surge.
Rafaela is making his World Baseball Classic debut for the Netherlands after declining an invitation three years ago to focus on his role with the Red Sox. He has also pointed to the chance to play alongside former Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts as a key personal motivation for joining this time.
Quick context: why this debut matters right now
Tuesday’s exhibition offered an early look at how quickly new additions can impact Team USA’s lineup. For Boston watchers, it also delivered a same-day snapshot of two Red Sox outfielders producing in high-visibility international tune-ups.
What’s next
All eyes now turn to Friday’s pool-play opener against Team Brazil, where Team USA’s lineup decisions and roles will come into sharper focus. For roman anthony, the challenge shifts from a debut moment to sustaining production as the games begin to count.
