DHL Dan CCLVII - Happy Father's Day

In this week's Picked Up Pieces column, Shank highlights the Red Sox's most recent call-up to the big leagues:

After Roman Anthony’s debut, it’s an especially happy Father’s Day for dad Tony, and other thoughts

Picked-up pieces while applauding NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran for asking Stefon Diggs, “What was in the bag?” . . .

Happy Father’s Day, Tony Anthony, father of Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony.

Along with Roman’s older siblings, Anthony and Lia, Tony and Lori Anthony have been enjoying our town since they arrived from Florida just in time for their son’s first big league hit, a two-run double against the Rays Tuesday night at Fenway Park. They’ve enjoyed Roman’s first week at Fenway with family and friends.

It must be interesting when Tony makes North End dinner reservations for Anthony Anthony.

Roman Anthony’s great-grandfather, father, and brother are all Anthony Anthony.

“Everybody jokes about it,” said Tony Anthony, a 61-year-old money manager from West Palm Beach. “That was my dad’s dad’s name and he died before I was born. I went to Catholic schools and was always teased about it, but I was a big kid and could handle myself. When my wife got pregnant with our first, we had no plans on naming him Anthony, but we couldn’t agree on another name, and ultimately my wife wanted to name him Anthony so we did. That’s the story.”

Red Sox Report - Roman Anthony

He's only been down there a few days and it's silly season already:

Roman Anthony has rocketed through the Red Sox farm system. Are the major leagues the next stop?

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Even his name is perfect.

Roman Anthony.

How can a kid miss with a name like that?

It rolls off the tongue and onto your scorecard like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Clint Hurdle, Bombo Rivera, Oil Can Boyd or Roy Hobbs.

The name is regal. Almost fictional. Too good to be true.

Just like the young Red Sox outfielder himself. Twenty-year-old Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony.

Welcome to Boston baseball’s spring training, 2025, where the frugal, suddenly middle-market Red Sox sell the future instead of their dismal, recent past. After some jackpot years picking high in the draft (finishing in last place has its benefits) fruits of Boston’s farm system are maturing and JetBluePark fans this spring will feast on a regular diet of 22-year-old second baseman Kristian Campbell, 22-year-old shortstop Marcelo Mayer, and last year’s No. 1-ranked prospect in all of baseball, Roman Anthony.

I think it's way too early for Shank to compare this kid to names like that, but we'll see.