Red Sox Outfielder Roman Anthony Struggles Defensively

Concerns about Anthony's arm strength and throwing accuracy surface early in the season

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:05pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball player making an off-target throw, their body and the ball's trajectory broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, visually representing the defensive issues plaguing the Boston Red Sox.A cubist interpretation of a Red Sox outfielder's defensive struggles, with poor throws and questionable instincts exposing cracks in the team's young core.Boston Today

The Boston Red Sox are off to a slow 4-8 start this season, and their defensive struggles have been a contributing factor. Specifically, center fielder Roman Anthony has had several throwing errors and missed opportunities to throw out runners at home plate, raising concerns about his arm strength and accuracy that were previously hinted at in scouting reports.

Why it matters

The Red Sox are counting on Anthony to be a key part of their outfield, so his defensive shortcomings could significantly impact the team's performance if they are not addressed. The Red Sox need to find a way to improve Anthony's throwing ability or consider alternative options in center field.

The details

In a recent game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Anthony had a chance to throw out the go-ahead run at home plate but his throw was off the mark. After the game, Anthony acknowledged that the throw was poor. This was not an isolated incident, as he has made at least three other errant throws to the plate this season, allowing runs to score. Scouting reports on Anthony last year noted concerns about his arm strength and lack of outfield assists, despite his solid overall defensive skills.

  • On Monday, April 6, 2026, Anthony had a throwing error that allowed the go-ahead run to score against the Brewers.
  • In 2024, Anthony started over 100 games in the outfield in the minor leagues and recorded just 2 outfield assists.

The players

Roman Anthony

A center fielder for the Boston Red Sox who has struggled defensively early in the 2026 season, raising concerns about his arm strength and throwing accuracy that were previously noted in scouting reports.

Boston Red Sox

The MLB team that is relying on Roman Anthony to be a key part of their outfield, but is now facing issues with his defensive performance.

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What they’re saying

“His throw wasn't even close. I take responsibility for that one.”

— Roman Anthony, Red Sox Center Fielder

What’s next

The Red Sox will need to work with Anthony to improve his throwing accuracy and arm strength, or consider alternative options in center field if he is unable to shore up this aspect of his game.

The takeaway

Roman Anthony's defensive struggles in center field for the Red Sox are an early-season concern that the team will need to address, as his throwing issues could significantly impact their performance if left unresolved.