Roman Anthony set to join Team USA for World Baseball Classic if he passes physical

Boston Red Sox

At 21, Anthony would be the youngest player on Team USA.

By Conor Roche

February 13, 2026 | 4:35 PM

2 minutes to read

Roman Anthony is going international.

The Red Sox’ young outfielder will join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic as an injury replacement for Diamondback outfielder Corbin Carroll, pending a physical, he confirmed to The Boston Globe‘s Tim Healey on Friday.

“So if it all goes well, the goal for me is to play,” Anthony told Healey. “It’d be an honor, for sure. It was something I’m super excited about, and when I got news of it, obviously super sad for [Carroll]. You don’t want to see that ever. But it would be a great opportunity and a great learning lesson for me, to go be around a bunch of the best players in the game.”

At 21, Anthony would be the youngest player on Team USA. He was also the team’s top choice to replace Carroll after the news broke earlier this week that the Diamondbacks’ star suffered a hand fracture, Healey reported.

However, Anthony hasn’t undergone a physical from the Red Sox since he suffered the oblique injury that ended his 2025 season early in September. Anthony will reportedly undergo his camp opening physical on Saturday, which will determine if he plays for Team USA.

If Anthony passes that check, he’ll join a pretty loaded outfield. Team USA already has Yankees star and three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, Twins star Byron Buxton, and Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstong in the outfield. Anthony’s left-handed bat and strong numbers against left-handed pitching last season (.278 batting average, .770 OPS) could help him see some regular playing time, though.

Anthony lived up to the billing as one of the best prospects in baseball when he made his MLB debut last season. He hit .292 with a .859 OPS, eight home runs, and 32 RBIs in 71 games last season.

Relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock is the only other Red Sox player on Team USA’s roster for the World Baseball Classic. They’ll be the first Red Sox players to play for Team USA in a World Baseball Classic since Shane Victorino in 2013.

Jarren Duran (Mexico), Wilyer Abreu (Venezuela), Willson Contreras (Venezuela), Ranger Suarez (Venezuela), Brayan Bello (Dominican Republic), Masataka Yoshida (Japan), and Ceddanne Rafaela (Netherlands) are among the other notable Red Sox players set to compete in the World Baseball Classic.

The World Baseball Classic begins on March 5. Team USA begins group play in Pool B on March 6.