The pressure was real—late innings, lights buzzing, and the crowd locked in. With the game on the line, a high-stakes decision unfolded that instantly drew heat. It was the bottom of the seventh, two outs, runner at first, Red Sox trailing 5-4. The left-handed reliever, Taylor Rogers, was ready for the Reds. Sitting on the bench was a red-hot lefty killer—a $2 million veteran with a .942 OPS against southpaws this season. However, instead of calling the slugger, Alex Cora stuck with the 21-year-old rookie, Roman Anthony, still earning the stripes. The outcome? A swinging strikeout, momentum lost, and lastly, the game.
That $2M veteran was Rob Refsnyder, and by all logic, he looked like the perfect call. Yet Alex Cora had other plans. When asked related to the snub, the manager’s reaction was simple but telling: “Nah. We didn’t hit for Roman in Anaheim the other day in the eighth. So he’s gonna hit.”
Cora was not managing by the numbers; he was managing by belief, and this belief rested on Baseball America’s No. 1 prospect, who had struck out just moments earlier on a 79.6 mph sweeper.
What is vital here is why the management made such a decision. Anthony had been in a similar position days earlier in Anaheim, and Cora did not pinch-hit for him then either. This was part of a developing pattern—trusting the rookie in high-leverage moments, betting on long-period growth over short-period gain. This is commendable in theory; however, when the team is clinging to playoff hopes, patience has a price.
Still, how such a move ripples through a team. Refsnyder’s .283 average against lefties, mixed with his four home runs and twelve RBIs in just 60 at-bats, is impactful. Stars notice who is getting opportunities. To add salt to the wound, the eighth inning collapsed, and the Reds piled on three more runs and sealed an 8-4 win that felt preventable.
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora watches against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Monday, April 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Cora’s choice to let Anthony bat was not just related to a single game. It highlights the larger direction this team looks to be leaning into and when you zoom out just a little, you will see the picture gets more complex.
Roman Anthony’s role fuels larger questions
While Alex Cora’s public backing of Anthony drew the spotlight, it is what’s happening behind the scenes that truly frames the bigger picture. Despite being crowned baseball’s No. 1 overall prospect, the star revealed this week that he has not had any serious deal talks with the team since being called up. This is surprising when you consider the Red Sox’s history of locking up young talent early—Rafaela, Bello, Campbell—all got deals. Yet, Anthony remains in a wait-and-see situation. Such a hesitation could suggest uncertainty and perhaps the management wants a larger sample size before making a long-period investment.
This approach comes with risk. As of now, the star is hitting just .215 with one home run and seven RBIs. Anthony has had flashes, like the RBI double against Cincinnati on July 1, however, overall, the transition has not been seamless. If he is indeed identified as the long-period anchor, then the Red Sox will need to back it up with trust and a deal.
We can not ignore the standings either. Entering Thursday, the team sat at 43-45, good for fourth in the AL East. The Red Sox have not reached the playoffs since 2021. Each missed scope now carries weight-not just for the 2025 season, however, for what Cora’s team is building toward. The question lingers: Is the Red Sox molding a future contender? Or, is the team fumbling a present one by playing the long game too publicly? At the heart of it all is Anthony, caught in the tug-of-war between potential and pressure.
So while Alex Cora’s move could have been related to star growth and while the management could see Roman Anthony as a centerpiece, the silence around an extension and the focus on the stars’ at-bats signal one thing loud and clear—the Red Sox’s margin for error is shrinking quickly.
`
The post Alex Cora Speaks Out on Putting $2M Red Sox Veteran on Standby After Roman Anthony Gamble appeared first on EssentiallySports.
