The Boston Red Sox are stepping boldly into a new era, but baseball has a funny way of keeping the past close by. In Monday’s 2-0 shutout over the Seattle Mariners, 21-year-old Roman Anthony crushed the first home run of his major league career, an electric moment in what’s already being seen as the beginning of a youth movement in Boston.
Roman Anthony’s Special Stat Reminds Fans of Departed Player
Here’s the twist: with that swing, Anthony became the youngest Red Sox player to homer in a game since, ironically, Rafael Devers in 2017.
Romany Anthony became the youngest Red Sox player (21 years, 34 days) to homer in a game since (drum roll) a 20-year-old Rafael Devers in 2017 https://t.co/lKU3EUHFlc
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) June 17, 2025
It is a full-circle moment. Only a day after Devers, who was long regarded as the team’s face, was dealt to the San Francisco Giants, his symbolic successor made history. Anthony didn’t just hit a home run; he made a statement.
He was called up as part of Boston’s effort to provide younger players with more significant opportunity. And in doing so, he unintentionally summoned memories of the player whose departure still echoes through Fenway Park.
For Red Sox supporters, the timing couldn’t be more heartbreaking. After the team had just finished sweeping the Yankees, Devers’ move came at a complete shock.
When Devers first appeared on the scene as a 20-year-old phenom, he was a consistent player, making tremendous swings and even greater moments. Like Fenway’s famous green walls, he had established a reliable presence at third base and in the middle of the lineup.
There was some tension before he left. Internal conflicts arose during the season, first when Boston signed Alex Bregman and then again when Devers turned down a midseason request to play first base after Tristan Casas’ injury.
Devers was urged to go to a full-time DH role, even though he didn’t agree to it at first. In the end, the front office decided to trade him to the Giants.
New Era, New Chapter in Boston
Players like Anthony are now taking center stage and preparing to write a new chapter in the franchise’s history.
Anthony’s home run felt symbolic as well as significant. It served as a reminder that even while Boston is changing, its history is still very much alive and well. Devers was a bright-eyed youngster who made his stage debut. Even if he’s doing it in a roster that feels and looks different, Anthony is now carrying that torch.
This new period is about progress, potential, and new energy, but it’s also about remembering the past. Already, Anthony is demonstrating how bright Boston’s future is. However, as seen by his swing on Monday, some legacies just pass the torch rather than completely disappear.