Two top Minor League Baseball (MiLB) prospects, Roman Anthony and Jac Caglianone, are making waves with their performances, despite their respective teams, the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals, struggling in the majors. Anthony, a 22-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Portland Sea Dogs, has posted a 1.64 ERA and 14.49 strikeouts per nine innings this season, while Caglianone, a 23-year-old right-handed reliever for the Midland Rockhounds, has compiled a 2.19 ERA and 15.1 strikeouts per nine innings. These numbers are impressive, and they have raised questions about why these prospects have not yet been called up to the major leagues.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora and Royals manager Mike Quatraro have both acknowledged the strong performances of these players, but have also expressed confidence in their current teams. Cora stated, “Roman is a special talent, but he also needs to continue to show that he can handle the pressure of a higher level.” Quatraro added, “Jac has shown that he can be a reliable reliever, but we also need to make sure he is ready for the bigger stage.”
Some analysts believe that the Red Sox and Royals may be taking a cautious approach with these prospects, waiting to see if they can maintain their current levels of performance. Others suggest that the teams may be in need of immediate help and are not willing to risk promoting these players just yet. Regardless of the reason, the continued development of Anthony and Caglianone highlights the importance of the minor leagues in the overall success of major league teams.