Roman Anthony (BOS): 0-4, RBI, BB.
So, obviously, the biggest storyline on Monday night’s slate was the debut of No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony, who was finally called up to the majors with the Red Sox moving Wilyer Abreu to the IL. As a disclaimer, Anthony was going to be today’s featured player regardless of his performance. Still, Monday’s quiet debut line of 0-4, RBI, BB gives us a chance to talk about an important virtue in fantasy baseball: patience.
It might be a frustrating thing to hear after we all waited months for Roman to get his first taste of big league action, and I understand that many are going to feel underwhelmed after Monday’s hitless performance. But, there are still many positives to take away from last night’s debut, so let’s dive in:
First things first: Anthony’s presence at fifth in the order displays an immediate trust from the Red Sox organization in giving the rookie high-leverage opportunities. The rookie did his part to send the game into extra innings, putting a ball in play in the ninth inning to bring home Rafael Devers before fellow rookie Kristian Campbell hit an infield single to tie the game. He also ripped a line drive in the fourth (111.2 exit velo) that unfortunately bounced right off of Shane Baz and was fielded for an out. In terms of his approach, Anthony showed good plate discipline and did not reach for pitches too far off the plate, leading to a walk in the seventh. He also made contact on every swing he made at a pitch inside the zone.
If there’s a negative to be drawn from Monday’s debut aside from going hitless, it’s Anthony’s defense. He made a rough error on a Yandy Díaz single to right field that went under his glove and allowed a run to score. Presumably, Anthony is up for good, but if he continues to make critical errors in the field, the likelihood that he gets sent back down to “work on his defense” becomes higher.
So, despite not showing up in the box score aside from a walk and a groundout RBI, one of baseball’s top prospects still showed signs that he belongs at the highest level. The success might not be immediate, and there are sure to be growing pains as Roman adjusts to MLB pitching, but the upside here is immense, and he deserves your patience. Feel free to leave him on your bench in favor of more proven assets in the early goings of his MLB career, but you absolutely should not be dropping him after one game. Remain patient–after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Monday:
Alejandro Kirk (TOR): 4-5, 2 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI.
The hottest catcher in the game right now might be Alejandro Kirk, who boosted his season slash line to .316/.361/.421 after Monday’s four-hit performance. Though he isn’t exactly known for his power, Kirk hit his fourth home run in the eighth on Monday before ripping his second double of the night in extras to bring home the game-winning run. Per his Process+ chart, Kirk has demonstrated good decision-making and contact ability all season, but the power has come around over the past month. He’s red-hot right now and worth picking up if you’re lacking production at catcher.
Jake Fraley (CIN): 3-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB.
The Cincinnati offense teed off on Cleveland pitching on Monday, and Jake Fraley was the standout performer, recording his first combo meal since returning from the IL at the end of May. While the performance was encouraging, Fraley has still struggled for much of the season and tends to sit against lefties–he was pinch-hit for in the ninth against a southpaw in this game, as well. Monitor the situation, but don’t rush to add him after one good game.
TJ Friedl (CIN): 2-5, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.
TJ Friedl, on the other hand, is a player I’d be looking to add if I need another outfielder or source of speed. Friedl isn’t known for his power, but he does have two long balls in his past four games. Instead, Friedl profiles as a three-category contributor for runs, steals, and AVG/OBP as the Reds’ everyday leadoff hitter. He won’t blow you away when you watch him, but his patience and approach at the plate are exactly what you want at the top of the lineup. If this Cincinnati lineup can get a little more life, Friedl could score over 100 runs and tally 25+ steals in 2025. He’s available in over half of ESPN leagues and 32% of Yahoo! leagues.
Kyle Tucker (CHC): 1-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB.
It’s always good to see a superstar break out of a power drought, which is exactly what Kyle Tucker did when he took Zack Wheeler deep in the first inning for his first home run since May 21. Tucker is having another prolific season as a five-category contributor, and we should see him in Atlanta this July. He’s about as safe a first-round pick as you can ask for–the only question mark for next season is what jersey he’ll be wearing.
Jonatan Clase (TOR): 2-4, HR, R, RBI.
Jonatan Clase came through in a big way for the Blue Jays by hitting a solo shot in the ninth to send the game to extras. It was his first home run of the year and just the second of his career. While Clase has improved as a hitter in nearly every metric compared to his 2024 numbers, he doesn’t have consistent enough playing time or production to warrant rostering in all but deep AL-only leagues.
Austin Riley (ATL): 3-5, 2B, 2 R.
Austin Riley is one player I’ve oddly seen catch a lot of flak lately as a perceived “bust” compared to his second-round ADP, yet he’s producing at a respectable clip in almost every category after recording four multi-hit performances in his past five games. The return of Ronald Acuña Jr. should continue to be a boon for Riley and the rest of the Atlanta lineup, and by season’s end, we’ll likely be looking at yet another productive all-around season from the star third baseman. The best sign of life for Riley lately is the improvements to his decision value in his Process+ chart, which, when coupled with his always-impressive power, should pay dividends in the summer months.
Iván Herrera (STL): 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI.
He’s back, baby! Iván Herrera has been mired in a mini-slump since returning from the IL a few weeks ago, but his clutch three-run homer on Monday was his second over the past week. Herrera has been an excellent source of ratios and RBIs during the 2025 campaign, and one of his best assets as a catcher is his near-everyday playing time. He’s worth an add if available in your leagues (61% owned in Yahoo!), and I would prioritize adding him over the aforementioned Alejandro Kirk due to that playing time benefit.
Max Muncy (ATH): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, SB.
The younger Max Muncy now has back-to-back games with a home run (and three of his last four) and notched his first steal of the year in Monday night’s game against the Angels. He’s an interesting Dynasty asset in deeper leagues, but not worth adding right now, as he probably won’t remain in the majors for the entire season. Still, I recognize that 2B in particular can be a wasteland, so if you need a short-term streamer, Muncy Jr. is a decent add while he’s swinging a hot bat.
Josh Naylor (ARI): 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, BB.
We’ll finish today’s column the same way Monday night’s slate ended–with a Josh Naylor walkoff grand slam. Arizona’s first baseman needed only to send a fly ball deep enough to bring home the runner from third base, but Naylor made sure to leave no doubt by launching his eighth home run of the year over the right field wall. Though Naylor has struggled in June, he’s been a consistent producer at 1B in a high-scoring lineup all season. Most impressive might be his nine steals despite his third percentile sprint speed. The buy-low window on this underrated first baseman may have swung closed with his game-winning swing last night.
Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Featured image by Aaron Polcare (@abeardoesart on Bluesky and X) and adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
