The Boston Red Sox have been without one of the key contributors at the plate for 11 days, after outfielder Roman Anthony hit the injured list with a right wrist sprain. Now he's reached the first step in his return to the lineup
It has been 11 days since Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony exited the Red Sox' 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers on May 4, landing on the 10-day injured list with a right wrist sprain. In those 11 days, Boston has played nine games, scoring 31 runs, which is the fourth fewest in baseball in that span. Anthony appears well on his way to a return, reaching a crucial first step in his recovery.
Anthony spent much of the six-game homestand with a brace on his right wrist, having yet to resume baseball activity, with The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey reporting that he could not so much as hold a bat. Now, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, the 22-year-old Anthony has officially resumed baseball activity, playing catch ahead of Friday night's series opener in Atlanta. Cotillo also noted that Anthony received a cortisone injection in his right wrist, which the team hopes will speed up his recovery.
As for when Anthony will begin swinging a bat again, that could come as soon as this weekend. As reported by the Boston Globe's Tim Healey, interim manager Chad Tracy is hopeful that Anthony will be able to begin a hitting progression while the team is in Atlanta.
When he was officially placed on the injured list ahead of the Red Sox series opening loss to the Rays last Thursday at Fenway Park, the 22-year-old said he planned to spend no more than the minimum time on the IL. That goal will come and go on Friday in Atlanta, with Anthony just beginning to return to limited baseball activities.
As far as a timeline for Anthony's return to the lineup? That remains a mystery. "I'm hoping quickly," Tracy told WEEI's Greg Hill Show about Anthony's return, "it's hard for me to answer, it could be this road trip, maybe it isn't...we just gotta see what he can handle and when he can handle it," he continued.
The Boston offense is in desperate need of a spark in the absence of Anthony, who had shown signs of a breakout before hitting the IL. They are coming off a six-game home stand in which they scored just 12 runs, hitting .150 with runners in scoring position. For now, though, the waiting game continues, as the young phenom has just begun his return to baseball activities.
The Red Sox will kick off a six-game road trip on Friday night in Atlanta, taking on the Braves in game one of a three-game set at Truist Park. Connelly Early gets the start for Boston, opposite Spencer Strider for Atlanta. First pitch set for 7:15 p.m. ET.
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