Roman Anthony Injury Update Casts Doubt on Rookie’s Return for Red Sox Playoff Push
As the Boston Red Sox fight to secure a playoff berth—currently holding a narrow lead for the American League’s second Wild Card spot with an 85-71 record—they may have to do so without one of their most promising young stars.
Rookie outfielder Roman Anthony has been sidelined since early September with a left oblique strain. Although there has been some improvement, his return doesn’t appear imminent. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow provided an update that suggested Anthony is still a long way from being ready to resume full baseball activity.
“He’s definitely looking more comfortable now than when it first happened,” Breslow said, via Ian Browne of MLB.com. “At the beginning, you could see the pain he was in. That’s eased up, but he still has a lot of progress to make before getting back on the field.”
Before his injury, Anthony was enjoying an impressive rookie season. In 71 games, he posted a .292 batting average with eight home runs, 32 RBIs, and four stolen bases. Despite missing time, he remains second in batting average among Red Sox players with at least 100 plate appearances and ranks sixth on the team in WAR (3.1).
While the Red Sox are aiming for a deep postseason run, they’re taking a cautious approach with Anthony. As valuable as he’s been, the organization is prioritizing his long-term health, not wanting to risk a setback that could impact his future. With Anthony viewed as a cornerstone of Boston’s rebuild, ensuring he fully recovers is more important than rushing him back for a short-term boost.
