Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony wasted no time endorsing Sonny Gray’s arrival — and the competitive edge that came with it. Speaking to SNY at the Italian American Baseball Foundation Gala in New York City, Anthony said Gray “seems like a competitor” who is “ready to play in Boston and take on the fans.”
He noted that the veteran has “done it in a big market before,” making him a player young teammates can learn from.
Gray has already done his part to make that rivalry more interesting. After joining Boston from St. Louis, he said it “feels good to go to a place where it’s easy to hate the Yankees” — and that was enough to guarantee he’ll be a lightning rod every time he returns to the Bronx.
The reasons for those hard feelings are well-documented.
During his tenure with the Yankees from 2017–18 , Gray struggled mightily at Yankee Stadium — posting a 7.71 ERA at home in 2018, compared to a 3.17 ERA on the road, per Baseball Reference. New York fans never let that go. By leaning into Boston’s side of the feud, Gray has more or less ensured he’ll be heckled from the moment he steps on the Yankee Stadium mound again.
His performance since leaving New York, though, has flipped the narrative. The 35-year-old delivered a 3.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 3.8 fWAR in 30 starts last year, according to FanGraphs, remaining a durable, top-tier rotation piece with postseason experience.
Anthony, 21 , represents the other half of Boston’s push back toward the top of the AL East. He hit.292 with a.396 on-base percentage and a 130 wRC+ over 71 games last season, per FanGraphs, showing the approach and maturity that made him one of MLB’s fastest-rising young hitters.
The first Red Sox–Yankees matchup of 2026 arrives in April at Fenway Park. Between Gray’s revived rivalry stance and Anthony’s enthusiasm, the fuel is already lit long before the first pitch.
