Red Sox scratch top prospect Roman Anthony from Friday lineup

Red Sox prospect Roman Anthony was scratched from Boston's lineup Friday with right elbow soreness.

Manager Alex Cora said the move is a precaution after Anthony was hit by a pitch in the right elbow on Thursday, and he might be back after sitting out Boston's spring training exhibition opener against Northeastern.

Anthony was slated to hit leadoff and play left field with Boston's "Big Three" prospects in the top three spots in the batting order. Second baseman Kristian Campbell and shortstop Marcelo Mayer remained in the lineup Friday.

"He's sore," Cora said, 20 minutes after Anthony arrived to take batting practice.

The No. 2 prospect in baseball, Anthony was replaced by Trayce Thompson. A spring training non-roster invitee, Thompson has played seven seasons with five teams prior to joining the Red Sox.

Anthony, 20, was a second-round pick in the 2022 draft. Baseball Prospectus ranks him first among all MLB prospects with Major League Baseball Pipeline and Baseball America ranking Anthony second.

In parts of three minor league seasons, he has a combined .284 batting average with 32 home runs, 141 RBIs and 38 stolen bases in 245 games.

--Field Level Media