It’s an unofficial rehab week in the Boston Red Sox organization as several key members of the Boston offense set off on their quest to return to the big league lineup. Among those sent out on assignment is 22-year-old phenom Roman Anthony, who has been out of the Red Sox lineup since May 5 after tearing a ligament in his right ring finger. He joined the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday night, batting second and serving as the designated hitter. 

Here’s what you need to know about his performance: 

Anthony’s first at bat of the game came in the bottom of the first inning against Philadelphia Phillies prospect right-hander Luke Russo. The 25-year-old Russo is currently unranked in MLB Pipeline’s organizational top 30. After falling behind in the count, 1-2, Anthony worked the count full before watching ball four, taking his base. 

His second at-bat of the night came in the bottom of the fourth with Portland leading 1-0 and Russo still on the mound. After working ahead in the count 2-1, Anthony ripped a 92 mph fastball to left field for a single. 

With Portland holding a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning and a man on first base, Anthony made his presence known in Portland, demolishing the first pitch he saw from Russo, sending it 108 mph out to right field, extending the Sea Dogs' lead to four, 4-0. 

Anthony stepped to the plate for his fourth and final plate appearance in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Portland's lead now shrunk to two, 5-3. The 22-year-old saw four straight pitches below the zone, working his second walk of the night before being pinch run for. 

Overall, Anthony went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run and two walks, scoring one run. 

It has been a long and confusing road to recovery for the former top-rated prospect in the sport. After initially thinking the injury would not require a trip to the injured list, Anthony was ultimately placed on the IL for what was expected to be a minimum stay. 10 days turned into a month, and when Anthony finally began swinging a bat, he suffered a setback, causing him to be shut down until he was completely pain-free. Then, of course, there was the miscommunication about the nature of the injury: the team initially deemed it a sprain, but Anthony disclosed that he had, in fact, torn a ligament in his finger. 

However, just 19 days after restarting his swing progression, Anthony told reporters in Portland that he is finally pain-free. “For me, getting back out there and swinging and having like that first day where I swing and take light swings or swing off a tee and not feel anything was like it didn't feel real for a second,” he told Tommy Cassell of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette ahead of Tuesday’s game. 

Back in Boston, interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters that the plan for Anthony remains fluid. “Tomorrow is already scheduled as a hybrid day where it’s like he’ll possibly play, possibly not. We’re just gonna see how he feels because he’s going to have a full day of BP on the field and his first game. We’ll just see how he feels,” Tracy told MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. 

Veteran shortstop Trevor Story made the second appearance of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday night, going 0-for-3, playing seven innings at shortstop. Story will play with Worcester again on Wednesday, before hopefully rejoining the Boston lineup for Friday’s series opener against the San Francisco Giants. Story has been on the injured list since May 16 after undergoing surgery to remove a sports hernia. 

Injured utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa will join Worcester beginning on Wednesday for a rehab assignment of his own. The veteran infielder has been out since June 20 after suffering from a stress reaction in his left forearm, which he attributed to swinging too hard. 

Injured relievers Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock both underwent MRIs on Tuesday to check on their right elbows. According to Cotillo, both Slaten and Whitlock’s imaging revealed no structural damage. Whitlock has been on the IL since Aug. 13 with right elbow inflammation. While Slaten was placed on the injured list ahead of Sunday’s series finale in Pittsburgh. 

It was a less encouraging MRI for designated hitter Masataka Yoshida, who landed on the injured list on Sunday after departing Saturday night’s win over the Pirates with a left hamstring strain. As Cotillo noted, Yoshida suffered a significant hamstring injury that could sideline the 33-year-old for the rest of 2026. 

Tracy also provided updates on a trio of injured pitchers, Tanner Houck, Garrett Crochet and Johan Oviedo. Houck faced live hitters for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2025, throwing 20-25 pitches. Crochet has increased his throwing volume, stretching out to 60 feet. While Oviedo remains in a bullpen progression. 

The Red Sox are 67-58 and in third place in the American League East.