When Roman Anthony stepped into Fenway Park for his MLB debut earlier this year, nearly nobody expected his family to steal the spotlight. But here we are again – and this time, it’s about money, legacy, and a sister who can’t contain her pride. The Red Sox just locked up their 21-year-old phenom with an eight-year, $130 million contract extension, and the Anthony family is celebrating in the most genuine way possible.
Want to predict what would happen when a young outfielder becomes the face of a franchise? The Red Sox and a rookie outfielder by the name of Roman Anthony closed an eight-year, $130 million contract extension on August 7, 2025. This contract will become effective in 2026 and will hold the 21-year-old rookie through at least the 2033 season. With escalators, the deal could pay out up to $230 million, contingent on his place in AL Rookie of the Year voting and other milestones. The press conference had Anthony surrounded by his family and Red Sox owner John Henry, along with Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow, a moment that screamed, We’re not letting this kid go anywhere.
Roman’s sister Lia, who became an overnight sensation during his debut, took to her Instagram story to share the Red Sox’s post about her brother’s milestone moment. Her simple yet powerful five-word message said it all: “So beyond proud of you!!!” The raw emotion in those exclamation marks captured what every family member feels when their loved one achieves something extraordinary.
Lia, who went viral during Roman’s Red Sox debut after being shown on the NESN broadcast, has been his biggest cheerleader throughout this incredible journey. Her authentic celebrations have become legendary among Red Sox fans. When Roman launched his second career homer 418 feet against Colorado, guess what Lia did? Straight to Instagram with those three perfect emojis: ““. But here’s the thing–while everyone’s talking about family reactions and viral moments, Roman just made the ultimate statement about where he sees his future. This $230 million commitment? It’s about way more than money.
Roman Anthony’s Bold Commitment Speaks Volumes About Red Sox Future
Want to talk about confidence? Roman Anthony just pulled off one of baseball’s gutsiest moves. After just 150 major league at-bats, he locked up his entire prime with Boston. No hesitation, no second-guessing–when the Red Sox offered generational money, this 21-year-old said yes without blinking. That’s either supreme confidence or pure genius.
Anthony opened up about his decision-making process during the press conference, revealing the emotional journey that led to his commitment. “I think for me, back in the spring, I hadn’t had any experience playing [in Boston] yet; I didn’t know what to expect yet. So for me, it was more of wanting to be here and getting a feel for the everyday lifestyle here. But, at the same time, knowing that I came up through this [organization] and always wanted to be here and knew how great this city was and how passionate this was and then, when I got to experience it, and like [Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow] mentioned only being 150 at-bats in, I can tell this is where I want to be and there’s no doubt.”
Image: MLB.com
Also, here’s the crazy part – Fenway Park has become electric since Anthony arrived in June. The Red Sox entered Wednesday with 16 wins in their last 18 home games. Coincidence? Hardly. This kid has turned Boston’s ballpark into a fortress, and those passionate fans are eating up every single moment of it.
Reality check time–Anthony went 0-for-4 in his first game after signing that massive deal. Pressure much? But here’s the kicker: one of his “outs” was a 105 mph rocket that would’ve been gone in literally every other ballpark. Talk about bad luck at Fenway! The kid’s power is ridiculous.
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