The Boston Red Sox are having a season to forget. They’re sitting dead last in the AL East at 32-45, and the injuries just keep piling up. One of the bigger question marks right now is rookie outfielder Roman Anthony, who hasn’t played since May 4 after he sprained his right wrist and hand against the Tigers.
And according to a new update from Chad Tracy, relayed by Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, Anthony is not close to coming back. Like, not even close.
Healey posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Anthony has made basically zero substantive progress while the Red Sox have been on the road. The guy has tried swinging a lighter bat here and there but hasn’t actually started a real hitting progression. That’s not nothing. It’s basically nothing.
What’s the holdup with Anthony’s recovery?
Wrist sprains can be tricky, especially for hitters. It’s not just about pain. It’s about being able to grip the bat, generate torque, and trust the joint when you swing hard. Anthony isn’t at that point yet. The team hasn’t put a timeline on his return, which is usually a bad sign for anyone hoping for a quick comeback.
Before the injury, Anthony wasn’t exactly tearing it up. He was hitting .222 with one home run and five RBIs. But the 22-year-old was never supposed to be an immediate star. He’s a prospect — a highly regarded one — drafted 79th overall by the Red Sox in 2022 out of high school. He worked his way up through the Rookie-level Florida Complex League and Single-A before cracking the big leagues in 2025 at age 21.
His rookie season was legit. In 71 games, Anthony slashed .292/.396 with eight homers and 32 RBIs. That’s the kind of production the Red Sox desperately need right now, especially from a young, cheap player they can build around.
Where do the Red Sox go from here?
Boston’s lineup has been inconsistent all year, and missing Anthony doesn’t help. They’re 14.5 games out of first place in the division and showing no signs of a turnaround. They’re in Colorado this week playing the Rockies, and Wednesday’s game is another chance to patch things together with a patchwork roster.
Fans are understandably frustrated. The front office has taken heat for not adding more depth over the winter, and now the injury bug is making things worse. There’s no sense rushing Anthony back, but it’s hard to ignore how badly the offense could use another bat — even one that was hitting .222 before he got hurt.
For now, Anthony is stuck in limbo. Light swings. No real progress. And no date in sight for a return.
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