Roman Anthony Earns Praise From David Ortiz After Powering USA to WBC Final

The 21-year-old outfielder hit a crucial home run to help the U.S. defeat the Dominican Republic and advance to the World Baseball Classic championship game.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:48pm

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In the semifinal of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Team USA edged past the Dominican Republic 2-1 thanks to a towering solo home run by 21-year-old outfielder Roman Anthony in the fourth inning. The win punched the U.S. team's ticket to the championship game, where they will face the winner of Italy vs. Venezuela. After the game, Dominican Republic legend David Ortiz, whose team was eliminated, congratulated Anthony and presented him with the first "MY DAWG" shirt of the year, calling the young player "the complete package."

Why it matters

Anthony's clutch performance in a high-stakes semifinal game has earned him praise from one of baseball's most respected figures, David Ortiz. This recognition from Ortiz, a Dominican native, is especially meaningful given the rivalry between the U.S. and Dominican teams in the tournament.

The details

With the game tied 1-1 in the fourth inning, Anthony launched a 421-foot solo home run that proved to be the difference-maker. The U.S. team also got strong pitching performances from Paul Skenes, who struck out seven batters over 4.1 innings, and closer Mason Miller, who sealed the victory in the ninth. After the game, Ortiz, whose Dominican squad had just been eliminated, congratulated Anthony and presented him with the first "MY DAWG" shirt of the year, calling the young player "the complete package."

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • Team USA will face the winner of Italy vs. Venezuela in the WBC championship game on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

The players

Roman Anthony

A 21-year-old outfielder for Team USA who hit a crucial home run to help his team defeat the Dominican Republic and advance to the World Baseball Classic final.

David Ortiz

A legendary former baseball player for the Boston Red Sox who is now a commentator. Ortiz congratulated Anthony and presented him with a special shirt after the game, despite Ortiz's Dominican team being eliminated.

Paul Skenes

The Team USA pitcher who struck out seven batters over 4.1 innings in the semifinal game.

Mason Miller

The Team USA closer who sealed the victory in the ninth inning of the semifinal game.

Mark DeRosa

The manager of Team USA, who is expected to field a similar lineup for the championship game.

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What they’re saying

“This might be one of the toughest moments for me to say 'Congratulations' to someone that I really love.”

— David Ortiz

What’s next

Team USA is expected to roll out nearly the same lineup that got the job done in the semifinal for the championship game on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Rookie right-hander Nolan McLean is expected to start the title game for the U.S., despite a shaky earlier outing.

The takeaway

Roman Anthony's clutch performance in the semifinal has earned him recognition from one of baseball's most respected figures, David Ortiz. This moment highlights the intense rivalry between the U.S. and Dominican teams, and Anthony's ability to rise to the occasion on the big stage.