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FORT MYERS, Fla. — Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer recently faced a challenge more daunting than hitting a 100-mph fastball.
Picking up 76 coffees for Red Sox staffers and teammates.
“I thought it was a joke,” Anthony told Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, “until it wasn’t.”
At the request of new Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler, two of Boston’s top prospects traveled to a Starbucks — roughly six miles from JetBlue Park — on the morning of Feb. 27. After ordering a variety of cold brews and lattes around 5 a.m., and driving cautiously for six miles to the park, Anthony and Mayer hand-delivered coffees to Red Sox personnel ahead of their Spring Training split-squad game in Lakeland.
The two were baseball baristas for the day.
“It’s a nice little welcome to big-league camp,” said Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham, who missed out on the coffee order.
“It’s kind of like old-school stuff, details like that, they go a long way,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who received a latte with almond milk. “They get it and, most importantly, they’re very talented.”
As for a mocha moniker for the two prospects? It probably won’t stick.
“You can call me whatever you want,” Anthony said. “...It was a fun experience, and we made it work.”
Beyond becoming coffee chauffeurs, Anthony and Mayer — along with the other member of Boston’s “Big 3” prospects in Kristian Campbell — have impressed Red Sox brass during the trios first stint in Major League camp this past month.
The Red Sox hope their top prospects can deliver future wins. Caffeine can take a back seat.
“(They’ve) put in a lot of work in this offseason,” Abraham said. “(They are in) different parts of their careers, all of them, but I think all three are fighting for a spot (on) that Major League roster breaking camp.
“We’ll see what happens, obviously, but they’ve all played really well.”
Moments after tying Wednesday’s Spring Training game with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, Mayer scored the winning run in Boston’s 6-5 walk-off victory over the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park.
“It’s good to get wins, especially walk offs,” Mayer said. “I know the games don’t count but it’s fun, it’s energizing.”
And Boston’s former first round draft pick from 2021 has a pep in his step this spring.
With injuries cutting his past two seasons short with the organization — he finished 2023 on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation before ending last season on the IL with a lumbar strain in his back — Mayer feels fully healthy going into the 2025 season.
“I’ve played the game really hard, and sometimes you get hurt doing that,” Mayer said. “But my body feels really good. I’m in a good spot and I’m excited for this year.”
This spring, Mayer is hitting .391 (9-for-23) in 11 games with a home run, four runs scored and seven RBI. The 22-year-old shortstop has worked at other infield positions, like second and third base, with sights set on making his MLB debut at some point this season.
“That’s really the only goal that I have,” Mayer said. “That’s the goal I’ve had since I was a little kid, so that really doesn’t change. I know I’m super close, but I got to keep working.”
“The more you see him, (the more) you get excited about it,” Cora said. “The challenge of the big leagues is something that he’s taken (to) heart and he shows up every day eager to get better.”
Just a month after receiving his promotion to Triple A last summer, Anthony was named the No. 1 prospect by Baseball America.
The 20-year-old outfielder earned that distinction due to a stellar year split between the Portland Sea Dogs (.269 BA, 15 HR and 45 RBI in 84 games) and Worcester Red Sox (.344 BA, 3 HR and 20 RBI in 35 games). Even with all of his success on the field, it’s easy to forget Anthony was still a teenager just 10 months ago.
“It’s his first big-league camp, he’s probably one of the younger ones here, but he certainly doesn’t act like it,” Abraham said. “He has a ton of maturity and the consistency that he brings in with his work every day is really awesome to see, and I think he’s a leader even at a young age.”
Although Anthony hasn’t played much this spring (15 at-bats in 7 games), the up-and-comer has proven behind the scenes why he’s considered one of the top prospects in baseball.
“He can move. He’s a good athlete,” Cora said. “He can play center or left, that’s where I see him but obviously the (offensive) part of the game is the one that gets the attention, and you see it.”
Selected by Boston in the second round of the 2022 first-year player draft, Anthony has quickly risen through the Red Sox ranks the past few years.
Now, Anthony is taking it day by day. That methodical approach has suited him so far.
“I think he does all the things that you want and hope for as a young player coming up through the minor leagues, and I think he’ll be able to do that at the highest level as well,” Abraham said. “So really excited with what he’s done so far in big-league camp, and I think we’re just kind of seeing the start of someone who’s going to have a really special career.”
With the lockers of Anthony, Mayer and Campbell all located in a row inside the Red Sox clubhouse at JetBlue Park, Alex Bregman’s stall sits next to Campbell’s.
Campbell, a 22-year-old utilityman who teammates nicknamed “Barry Bonds” last year for his prowess at the plate, is trying to act like a sponge around Bregman — the Red Sox’ biggest splash in free agency this offseason.
“(Bregman) sets a great example,” Campbell said. “He’s a great baseball player, a great person, so you can’t ask for much more from him. Just pick his brain and learn as much as you can from him because he knows a lot about baseball.”
Campbell, like Anthony, enjoyed a rapid rise through the minor leagues last season, and was named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year and the Double-A Eastern League Most Valuable Player.
The right-handed hitter — with a slightly unorthodox swing — batted .330 (142 for 430) with 32 doubles, 3 triples, 20 home runs, 94 runs and 77 RBIs in 115 games with High-A Greenville (40 games), Double-A Portland (56 games), and Triple-A Worcester (19 games). The super utilityman made 35 starts at second base, 32 at shortstop, 25 in center field, 16 as the designated hitter and 5 at third base, while Campbell ranked second among all full-season minor league players in on-base percentage (.439) and OPS (.997).
Campbell is currently hitting .167 with five hits, five walks, five runs and 12 strikeouts in 30 plate appearances during Spring Training.
“He certainly has the athleticism, the abilities, everything that you want out of a big-league player,” Abraham said. “For him, it’s just staying within himself and not trying to do too much. It’s very normal for a young player to go up and want to prove to everyone that he belongs, and I don’t think he has to do that because he has the talent and the ability.”
With the Red Sox opening day roster still to be announced, and with possible needs in the outfield and at second base, Campbell is keeping his options open with hopes of breaking camp with the big-league club.
“I’d probably play pretty much anything. Whatever helps the team win at the end of the day,” said Campbell, a 2023 fourth-round pick by Boston. “But I just keep continuing to get my reps where they tell me to go, and we’ll see how it all falls at the end.”
With Spring Training ending in 10 days for the Red Sox, seeing where Boston’s “Big 3” prospects start the 2025 season will be worth monitoring.
But even if their respective seasons don’t start with Boston, Red Sox brass believe the trio of prospects have a bright future with the big-league club. Coffee orders aside.
“They’re all really good players. All have had a ton of success, but they’re not just happy with being good. They want to be great,” Abraham said. “(There’s) a long way to go and a long season, long careers ahead of them.
“But we’re really excited (with) where they are and the season ahead for each of them.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Red Sox Big 3 prospects Roman Anthony Marcelo Mayer Kristian Campbell
Continue reading...
Picking up 76 coffees for Red Sox staffers and teammates.
“I thought it was a joke,” Anthony told Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, “until it wasn’t.”
At the request of new Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler, two of Boston’s top prospects traveled to a Starbucks — roughly six miles from JetBlue Park — on the morning of Feb. 27. After ordering a variety of cold brews and lattes around 5 a.m., and driving cautiously for six miles to the park, Anthony and Mayer hand-delivered coffees to Red Sox personnel ahead of their Spring Training split-squad game in Lakeland.
The two were baseball baristas for the day.
You must be registered for see images
“It’s a nice little welcome to big-league camp,” said Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham, who missed out on the coffee order.
“It’s kind of like old-school stuff, details like that, they go a long way,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who received a latte with almond milk. “They get it and, most importantly, they’re very talented.”
As for a mocha moniker for the two prospects? It probably won’t stick.
“You can call me whatever you want,” Anthony said. “...It was a fun experience, and we made it work.”
Beyond becoming coffee chauffeurs, Anthony and Mayer — along with the other member of Boston’s “Big 3” prospects in Kristian Campbell — have impressed Red Sox brass during the trios first stint in Major League camp this past month.
The Red Sox hope their top prospects can deliver future wins. Caffeine can take a back seat.
“(They’ve) put in a lot of work in this offseason,” Abraham said. “(They are in) different parts of their careers, all of them, but I think all three are fighting for a spot (on) that Major League roster breaking camp.
“We’ll see what happens, obviously, but they’ve all played really well.”
You must be registered for see images
Marcelo Mayer
Moments after tying Wednesday’s Spring Training game with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, Mayer scored the winning run in Boston’s 6-5 walk-off victory over the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park.
“It’s good to get wins, especially walk offs,” Mayer said. “I know the games don’t count but it’s fun, it’s energizing.”
You must be registered for see images
And Boston’s former first round draft pick from 2021 has a pep in his step this spring.
With injuries cutting his past two seasons short with the organization — he finished 2023 on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation before ending last season on the IL with a lumbar strain in his back — Mayer feels fully healthy going into the 2025 season.
“I’ve played the game really hard, and sometimes you get hurt doing that,” Mayer said. “But my body feels really good. I’m in a good spot and I’m excited for this year.”
You must be registered for see images attach
This spring, Mayer is hitting .391 (9-for-23) in 11 games with a home run, four runs scored and seven RBI. The 22-year-old shortstop has worked at other infield positions, like second and third base, with sights set on making his MLB debut at some point this season.
“That’s really the only goal that I have,” Mayer said. “That’s the goal I’ve had since I was a little kid, so that really doesn’t change. I know I’m super close, but I got to keep working.”
“The more you see him, (the more) you get excited about it,” Cora said. “The challenge of the big leagues is something that he’s taken (to) heart and he shows up every day eager to get better.”
You must be registered for see images
Roman Anthony
Just a month after receiving his promotion to Triple A last summer, Anthony was named the No. 1 prospect by Baseball America.
The 20-year-old outfielder earned that distinction due to a stellar year split between the Portland Sea Dogs (.269 BA, 15 HR and 45 RBI in 84 games) and Worcester Red Sox (.344 BA, 3 HR and 20 RBI in 35 games). Even with all of his success on the field, it’s easy to forget Anthony was still a teenager just 10 months ago.
You must be registered for see images
“It’s his first big-league camp, he’s probably one of the younger ones here, but he certainly doesn’t act like it,” Abraham said. “He has a ton of maturity and the consistency that he brings in with his work every day is really awesome to see, and I think he’s a leader even at a young age.”
Although Anthony hasn’t played much this spring (15 at-bats in 7 games), the up-and-comer has proven behind the scenes why he’s considered one of the top prospects in baseball.
“He can move. He’s a good athlete,” Cora said. “He can play center or left, that’s where I see him but obviously the (offensive) part of the game is the one that gets the attention, and you see it.”
You must be registered for see images
Selected by Boston in the second round of the 2022 first-year player draft, Anthony has quickly risen through the Red Sox ranks the past few years.
Now, Anthony is taking it day by day. That methodical approach has suited him so far.
“I think he does all the things that you want and hope for as a young player coming up through the minor leagues, and I think he’ll be able to do that at the highest level as well,” Abraham said. “So really excited with what he’s done so far in big-league camp, and I think we’re just kind of seeing the start of someone who’s going to have a really special career.”
You must be registered for see images
Kristian Campbell
With the lockers of Anthony, Mayer and Campbell all located in a row inside the Red Sox clubhouse at JetBlue Park, Alex Bregman’s stall sits next to Campbell’s.
Campbell, a 22-year-old utilityman who teammates nicknamed “Barry Bonds” last year for his prowess at the plate, is trying to act like a sponge around Bregman — the Red Sox’ biggest splash in free agency this offseason.
You must be registered for see images
“(Bregman) sets a great example,” Campbell said. “He’s a great baseball player, a great person, so you can’t ask for much more from him. Just pick his brain and learn as much as you can from him because he knows a lot about baseball.”
Campbell, like Anthony, enjoyed a rapid rise through the minor leagues last season, and was named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year and the Double-A Eastern League Most Valuable Player.
The right-handed hitter — with a slightly unorthodox swing — batted .330 (142 for 430) with 32 doubles, 3 triples, 20 home runs, 94 runs and 77 RBIs in 115 games with High-A Greenville (40 games), Double-A Portland (56 games), and Triple-A Worcester (19 games). The super utilityman made 35 starts at second base, 32 at shortstop, 25 in center field, 16 as the designated hitter and 5 at third base, while Campbell ranked second among all full-season minor league players in on-base percentage (.439) and OPS (.997).
Campbell is currently hitting .167 with five hits, five walks, five runs and 12 strikeouts in 30 plate appearances during Spring Training.
You must be registered for see images
“He certainly has the athleticism, the abilities, everything that you want out of a big-league player,” Abraham said. “For him, it’s just staying within himself and not trying to do too much. It’s very normal for a young player to go up and want to prove to everyone that he belongs, and I don’t think he has to do that because he has the talent and the ability.”
With the Red Sox opening day roster still to be announced, and with possible needs in the outfield and at second base, Campbell is keeping his options open with hopes of breaking camp with the big-league club.
“I’d probably play pretty much anything. Whatever helps the team win at the end of the day,” said Campbell, a 2023 fourth-round pick by Boston. “But I just keep continuing to get my reps where they tell me to go, and we’ll see how it all falls at the end.”
You must be registered for see images
With Spring Training ending in 10 days for the Red Sox, seeing where Boston’s “Big 3” prospects start the 2025 season will be worth monitoring.
But even if their respective seasons don’t start with Boston, Red Sox brass believe the trio of prospects have a bright future with the big-league club. Coffee orders aside.
“They’re all really good players. All have had a ton of success, but they’re not just happy with being good. They want to be great,” Abraham said. “(There’s) a long way to go and a long season, long careers ahead of them.
“But we’re really excited (with) where they are and the season ahead for each of them.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Red Sox Big 3 prospects Roman Anthony Marcelo Mayer Kristian Campbell
Continue reading...
