Red Sox Outfielder Roman Anthony Calls Out Team's 'Unacceptable' Start

The 21-year-old star says the team needs to 'bring more energy' after a 2-7 beginning to the season.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:23pm

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The Boston Red Sox have stumbled out of the gate, starting the 2026 MLB season with a dismal 2-7 record. After a tough loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, in which the Red Sox blew a late lead, young star outfielder Roman Anthony criticized the team's performance, calling it 'unacceptable' to both the players and the fans. Anthony, who has been pegged as a future superstar, says the team needs to find a way to 'bring more energy' and be better.

Why it matters

The Red Sox's poor start has already drawn the ire of the team's passionate fanbase, with some even calling for ownership changes. As one of the team's rising young stars, Anthony's comments carry significant weight and reflect the growing frustration within the clubhouse over the team's struggles.

The details

In the top of the fifth inning on Sunday, the Red Sox held a 4-3 lead over the Padres. However, Padres All-Star Manny Machado hit a three-run home run to give San Diego an 8-6 lead, which they would hold on to for the win. After the game, the 21-year-old Anthony expressed his disappointment, saying the team's play has been 'unacceptable' and that they need to 'find a way to just bring more energy and just be better'.

  • The Red Sox fell to 2-7 on the season with Sunday's loss.
  • Last season, the Red Sox finished 89-73 and made the American League Wild Card Series.

The players

Roman Anthony

A 21-year-old outfielder for the Boston Red Sox who has been pegged as one of MLB's next superstars since his debut in 2025. He has a .235 batting average and .698 OPS so far this season.

Manny Machado

An All-Star infielder for the San Diego Padres who hit a three-run home run to give the Padres the lead in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

John Henry

The longtime principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group.

Alex Bregman

An All-Star third baseman who left the Red Sox as a free agent in January to join the Chicago Cubs.

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What they’re saying

“You just continue to show up every day, work your [expletive] off and get in the video room and be as prepared as you possibly can. I mean, I don't think that we're not doing that. I think, again, this is just a tough stretch.”

— Roman Anthony, Red Sox Outfielder

“We need to find a way to just bring more energy and just be better. This is unacceptable. It's unacceptable to the fans. It's unacceptable to the standard we set for ourselves.”

— Roman Anthony, Red Sox Outfielder

What’s next

The Red Sox will look to turn things around in their upcoming series against the New York Yankees, a key early-season matchup between two American League East rivals.

The takeaway

Roman Anthony's blunt criticism of the Red Sox's poor start underscores the growing frustration within the team and fanbase. As one of the franchise's rising young stars, Anthony's comments put additional pressure on the team to quickly right the ship and live up to the high expectations that surrounded them entering the season.