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Roman Anthony Discusses Unique Benefit Of Playing In World Baseball Classic originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox made the playoffs last year in large part due to Roman Anthony, who gave the lineup a massive spark after debuting in June. Unfortunately, however, he missed the postseason after suffering an oblique injury in early September.
While Anthony was robbed of that experience, he's getting a pretty good substitute for it by playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this spring.
The atmosphere at this year's WBC games has often been described as electric, with many observers saying it rivals or even surpasses the environment at MLB playoff games. Aaron Judge said the crowds are bigger and better than the World Series, and some have even compared it to the Super Bowl.
It's been huge for Anthony to get that experience and feel that pressure at age 21, hopefully preparing him for the postseason the next time the Red Sox reach October.
"You can't beat this environment this early in the year," Anthony told FOX's postgame crew after Sunday's tense victory over the Dominican Republic. "Just being out there and being around this atmosphere and these guys and all these fans...getting this experience has been huge."
Anthony has thrived off that intensity, blasting a pair of huge home runs last week to help USA advance to the final. He'll get one more taste of that on Tuesday before returning to Boston's spring training camp in Fort Myers, Florida.
While Anthony regrets not being able to face the New York Yankees last fall, he's still enjoyed this experience and getting to represent his country on such a big stage.
"I love going out and competing, I love the moment," Anthony continued. "So missing the postseason last year, it killed me, but just to be here and to turn the page and be healthy and get the opportunity to represent this country, it's everything to me."
If this tournament has proved anything, it's that Anthony isn't afraid of the moment. He can handle the bright lights, which should serve him well with the Red Sox.
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