Roman Anthony’s parents, Anthony Anthony and Lori Anthony, have been incredibly supportive of his baseball journey, and they were present at Fenway Park to witness his first Major League hit.
Boston Red Sox outfielder recorded his first career big-league hit against the Tampa Bay Rays, just 24 hours after making his MLB debut.
Highlights
- Roman Anthony’s father, Anthony Anthony, a die-hard Buffalo sports fan, taught him the importance of resilience.
- His mother, Lori Anthony, a physician assistant, instilled in him discipline and a strong work ethic.
- His family flew from Florida to Boston overnight to ensure they wouldn’t miss his first career hit.
After graduating from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Roman committed to play college baseball at Ole Miss after his sophomore year.
The Sun Sentinel named him the Broward County 7-A Player of the Year after hitting a .363 batting average with five home runs, six doubles, and 22 runs batted in (RBIs).
Roman was one of the top prospects for the 2022 MLB draft, and the Boston Red Sox selected him with the 79th pick.
He was assigned to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox but was promoted to the Salem Red Sox of the Single-A Carolina League.
Similarly, he was promoted to the High-A Greenville Drive and the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. He was the Red Sox’s minor league hitter of the year for 2023.
The Red Sox invited him to 2025 spring training, and he was the youngest Red Sox player to make his debut since Rafael Devers. His uniform number was changed from 48 to 19.
I wore (48) in spring, and wore 19 last year in Triple-A. And then credit to [equipment manager Tom McLaughlin] and those guys, called me this morning and ‘Hey, we’re gonna be able to get you 19.’ So I was super thankful for that.
Roman Anthony
Roman Anthony’s Hard-Working Parents Shaped A Red Sox Star
Roman Joseph Anthony, the son of Anthony Anthony and Lori Anthony, was born on May 13, 2004, in West Palm Beach, Florida. His parents raised him alongside his brother and sister.
He is making waves in the baseball world, but behind his success is a tight-knit family built on hard work, dedication, and an unusual naming tradition.
This is Roman Anthony’s family
— Dynasty Zoltan (@DynastyZoltanFF) June 11, 2025
His father’s name is Anthony Anthony
His brother’s name is Anthony Anthony Jr. (goes by Tony)
I hope they love the North End pic.twitter.com/rr4c5HHLqg
His brother Anthony Anthony grew up in Buffalo, New York, as a die-hard Bills and Bulls fan.
His love for Buffalo never wavered, even though he spent time in Syracuse and Philadelphia. Later, he passed that passion down to Roman.
The two have remained loyal Bills fans through thick and thin, bonding over football just as much as baseball.
Meanwhile, Lori Anthony, a physician assistant, instilled discipline and determination in her children.
She led her children, showing the value of hard work rather than just encouraging them to chase their dreams.
Roman has spoken about how both of his parents worked through high school and college, sacrificing their opportunities to ensure their children had every chance to succeed.
Dad name is Anthony Anthony. Brother name is also Anthony Anthony. We don’t get too creative with it, lots of Johns and Anthonys with the family. My grandfather is also Anthony Anthony. It runs pretty far back.
Roman Anthony
The Anthony family’s naming tradition doesn’t stop at Roman’s father. His older brother is also named Anthony Anthony.
His brother recently graduated from the University of Florida and now works in the commercial real estate industry.
On the other hand, his sister, Lia Anthony, is following in her mother’s footsteps, attending medical school at Florida State University.
Can't stop thinking about Roman Anthony's grandfather, father, and brother all being named Anthony Anthony. https://t.co/NTgZ4iBYGz
— Mike Monaco (@MikeMonaco_) June 11, 2025
Roman Anthony’s Parents Made His First MLB Hit Even More Special
Roman Anthony’s second career MLB game was unforgettable.
He recorded his first major league hit, and his most prominent supporters had the best seats in the house to witness it.
I looked at Romans dad and thought “that’s the most Italian guy i’ve ever seen” and then moments later I found out his name is Anthony Anthony. Tony Anthony. Point stands.
— Tyler Duffy (@DuffyTyler_) June 11, 2025
pic.twitter.com/WNFIhVPxiY
A group of about 10 family members and friends, including Anthony’s parents, Lori and Tony, his siblings, grandparents, uncle, agents, and close friends, were seated in the owner’s box near manager Alex Cora during Boston’s matchup against the Rays on Tuesday.
Their prime location gave them a front-row view as the rising athlete smashed his first major league hit into left field for a two-run double in the first inning.
I didn’t even notice they were there until I went up for my first at-bat. Nobody really gave me the heads-up that they were gonna be that close.
Roman Anthony
That group out there has been with me every step of the way. Just to see them here, I know they had to miss yesterday because unfortunately it was quick notice. To have them here was special for sure.
The moment was even sweeter considering his family had missed his MLB debut the night before.
Roman was called up on short notice after Wilyer Abreu landed on the injured list.
His family, based in Florida, couldn’t make it to Fenway in time for Monday’s game, but by Tuesday, his parents had flown to Boston, ensuring they wouldn’t miss another milestone.
I think the organization does an amazing job taking care of families when they’re playing for the first time in the big leagues. Just to be around and see their smiles and saw some tears, too, it’s pretty cool.
Alex Cora
Additional Information
- Roman Anthony was named the Gatorade Florida Player of the Year and Florida Mr. Baseball.
- He received an over-slot signing bonus of $2.5 million from the Boston Red Sox.
- On June 7, 2025, he belted a 497-foot grand slam home run against the Rochester Red Wings, the most prolonged blast in professional baseball to that point in the year.
