After Devers trade, Red Sox fans' hopes shift to Roman Anthony

• Already a cornerstone of the franchise's future, Anthony will now be crucial to its present as the Sox fight for a spot in the postseason.

Meet Roman: A native of West Palm Beach, Anthony won top statewide honors in Florida as a high-schooler before playing college ball at Ole Miss.

• He was chosen by Boston in the 2022 draft and was the team's minor league hitter of the year by the 2023 season.

Zoom in: Anthony is 6-foot-3, bats left-handed, and is lauded by scouts for his quick swing, strong decision-making and potential to be a premium power hitter.

• His sky-high slugging upside was on display June 7, when he hit a 497-foot grand slam for Triple-A Worcester — the longest home run at any level this season.

The latest: Anthony hit his first homer with the major league squad last week, becoming the youngest Red Sox player to do so since Devers in 2017, per MLB.com.

• Over the weekend, Anthony hit a double and scored in the Sox' loss to San Francisco.

Yes, but: The timing of Anthony's arrival and Devers' departure is an unfortunate reminder for Sox fans that the team hasn't consistently held on to its young stars.

• The most infamous recent example: the team's decision to trade former league MVP Mookie Betts, who's since won two World Series with the LA Dodgers.

The bottom line: Whether or not the Sox stay in contention with Devers gone, fans can hope to watch Anthony blossom in an expanded role.