Mar 18, 2026
3 min read
Red Sox star Roman Anthony's home run sent the United States into the 2026 WBC Finals with a 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic.
Team USA's roster is stacked with veteran stars, but it was the youngest player who led them to the final game of the World Baseball Classic with a larger-than-life home run on Sunday.
Facing Dominican Gregory Soto in the fourth, Roman Anthony's 421-foot solo goal gave Team USA its first lead in the semifinals.
The lead was decided and the final score came out.Two hours after the shots of the Red Sox wunderkinds, Team USA won 2-1 to advance to the winning game for the third time in tournament history.
"I passed out when I hit it," Anthony told Kevin Burkhart, Derek Jeter, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez on the Fox Sports Postgame Show."I said in my head (towards the ball) 'Please go, please go.'
Anthony, 21, is hitting .318 with a 1.014 OPS in six league games so far.According to MLB's Sarah Langes, seven of the games that have been hit are by players under the age of 22 in this year's WBC.Two of them are Anthony, who was only called up to Team USA in mid-February when Arizona Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll suffered a broken hump and was sidelined.
"It's a blessing to represent this country," Anthony said. "Going into spring training (I) didn't expect it. Going into my first full year (in the majors) I thought I was going to be in Fort Myers full time. And then when I got the call, it was a no-brainer."
"I think the biggest thing for me was getting to know the team around me, right? Anthony continued. "The knowledge, the experience, so many people have affected the sport in such an amazing way. So for me, it's just coming here and learning as much as I can.But at the same time, to compete every day."
Just 71 games and less than half a season into his major league career, Anthony has already proven he can more than hold his own among veterans on the field and in the clubhouse.This was evident almost immediately when he debuted in Boston last June 9, less than a month after his 21st birthday, and his reputation as a talented player with a high level of plate training and maturity, ko-keled, humble and hardworking, has spread throughout the league.
"Some guys asked about you," Ortiz told Anthony, "and I told them you're the complete package. You're a good athlete, good listener, your work ethic is on another level."
Rodriguez, whose recent trade with the Red Sox and reassignment to the New York Yankees in February 2004 made him one of the most polarizing figures in the two teams' rivalry, also had plenty of praise for Anthony.
A four-time Hall of Fame honoree.
"When you look at kids like that, whether it's Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Derek Jeter or Papi, some guys just have that Factor," Rodriguez said.
Anthony earned .292 with .859 OPS in his new season last year.Last month, Red Sox manager Alex Cora named him the leading striker for next season.
But before Anthony plays in his first MLB Opener next week, he will try to win on the international stage.Venezuela and Italy will play in the semi-finals on Monday to see who will face Team USA in the WBC final on Tuesday.
