The waiting game continues as two of Boston's most important players work their way back from injuries.
BOSTON -- Ahead of Monday night's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy gave two discouraging updates on injured stars Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet. Here's what you need to know:
Garrett Crochet
The 26-year-old Crochet was diagnosed with a minor LAT strain after last Tuesday's loss to the Baltimore Orioles, with Tracy telling reporters that Crochet could resume throwing as soon as he is asymptomatic from the strain.
According to MassLive.com's Christopher Smith, while the 2025 Cy Young Award runner-up is still with Boston in Tampa, he has not yet reached the point of throwing again.
Crochet told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe after undergoing an MRI on Tuesday that he was experiencing tightness rather than pain in the injured LAT, adding that he was not close to a return even before suffering the setback.
The 26-year-old Crochet was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Friday afternoon, making him ineligible to return to the Boston rotation until June 25.
Roman Anthony
The 22-year-old Anthony has been out of the Red Sox lineup since May 4 after suffering a partial tear in his ring finger in Boston's win over Detroit. Anthony had begun a swing progression ahead of Boston's May 26 series opener against Atlanta, but experienced a setback when he felt pain in his hand after attempting to hit off a tee, which led the team to shut him down again.
According to Smith, Anthony has still not reached the point of being able to resume that swinging progression.
There has been plenty of drama surrounding Anthony's injury, as team officials pushed back on a report that Anthony suffered a torn ligament in his hand, only for Anthony himself to confirm a tear in an interview with WEEI's Rob Bradford during May 28's Red Sox Radio pregame show.
In other Red Sox news
According to Smith, Boston is set to activate reliever Garret Whitlock from the 15-day injured list ahead of Tuesday night's game in Tampa. Whitlock landed on the injured list on May 28 after slipping on a wet mound during Boston's series finale against Minnesota.
Whitlock made one rehab appearance for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, throwing one inning, allowing one hit while walking two and striking out one. The 29-year-old's return will be a welcome sight for a Boston bullpen that has posted a 3.78 ERA in 33.1 innings in his absence.
Boston also made a minor transaction ahead of Monday night's game in Tampa, recalling utility man Nate Eaton from Worcester. Eaton is hitting .283/.348/.450 in 48 games for Worcester in 2026. To make room on the 26-man roster for Eaton, Boston optioned left-handed reliever Joe La Sorsa to Triple-A.
La Sorsa made one appearance for Boston, allowing one earned run in just a third of an inning in the Red Sox' 6-1 loss to New York on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Sox are 27-36 and in last place in the American League East entering play on Monday.
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