“Done Being Ignored”: Roman Anthony’s 60.3% Hard-Hit Rate Leads MLB, Officially Ending the Red Sox’s “Rock Bottom” Era.vc
(BOSTON) — Season 1 of the Roman Anthony era is officially in the books, and the kid did not flop.
For a franchise still reeling from the exit of superstars and struggling to find its identity, the 2025 campaign was supposed to mark the painful aftermath of losing Rafael Devers—the true “rock bottom.” Then, Anthony pulled up and said, “nah, we’re not done.”
The rookie’s breakout season has immediately re-energized Fenway Park, providing the first true glimpse of October relevance since the Mookie Betts days.
The Stat That Defines a Superstar
While his overall numbers were strong enough to secure him 3rd place in the AL Rookie of the Year race, one statistic truly set Anthony apart and placed him instantly in superstar company:
His 60.3% Hard-Hit Rate, which led the entire MLB.2
This figure is “absolutely wild.” Hard-hit rate measures the frequency with which a player makes contact with an exit velocity of 95 mph or higher—a metric proven to correlate directly with power production.3 Anthony didn’t just compete; he dominated, leading the league ahead of established power titans:
- Roman Anthony: 60.3
- Kyle Schwarber: 59.6
- Shohei Ohtani: 58.4
Anthony’s ability to consistently drive the ball harder than virtually anyone else in the game at just 21 years old suggests his 8 home runs this season are just the opening act.
Rookie Season: The Baseline
Anthony’s final rookie stat line confirmed his status as a true cornerstone:
| Statistic | Concrete Number |
| Batting Average | .292 |
| Total Hits | 75 |
| Home Runs | 8 |
| Runs Batted In (RBI) | 32 |
| Runs Scored | 48 |
| Hard-Hit Rate (MLB Leader) | 60.3 |
Season 2 is Loading
The narrative for the Red Sox has officially shifted from one of rebuilding pain to anticipation. Anthony’s rookie success gives the front office a legitimate star to build around, validating years of strategic vision.
Season 2 is loading, and it’s shaping up to be the one where Anthony fully steps into the spotlight. The question is no longer if the Red Sox will return to the Fall Classic, but when Anthony will officially drag them there. Boston might not be “back” yet, but Roman Anthony is making sure they’re done being ignored.
