Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is taking a huge step towards an MLB return on Tuesday, beginning his rehab assignment with Double-A Portland. Anthony, MLB's former No. 1 overall prospect and last year's Rookie of the Year third-place finisher in the AL Rookie of the Year voting, has missed the majority of the season with a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger. Anthony first landed on the 10-day injured list in May, but moved to the 60-day after the Red Sox discovered the severity of the injury.
He played 30 games before landing on the IL, and underperformed given the buzz which surrounded him at the beginning of the season. He hit just one homer in 109 at-bats, driving in five runs over the course of those 30 games. He slashed .229/.354/.321 for a .675 OPS prior to his injury.
Despite the lengthy stint on the injured list, Anthony is ready to go and feels completely 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," Anthony said, per Worcester Telegram & Gazette's Tommy Cassell. "And then having good weeks and having good, good days at a time that I was able to stack together felt just refreshing.
And for me being out here and being on the field is what gives me more peace than anything. So, to get out of there and out of hot Fort Myers and be able to come back here and play a baseball game today is a blessing." Anthony got off to a slow start following his highly-anticipated debut in 2025, but quickly adapted and became a force in the Red Sox's lineup. He had an OPs north go .900 in his first full month in the majors despite only hitting one homer, and ended the year with a .859 to go with his eight bombs and 32 RBIs.
He fell short of the Rookie of the Year award despite his strong performance, finishing behind the Athletics' rookie duo of Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson, but still earned a selection to Team USA's roster for the World Baseball Classic in March. He had a brilliant tournament for Team USA, hitting two homers and driving in a team-leading seven runs over the course of the tournament. If Anthony can find his form for the Red Sox upon his return, the Red Sox will get a huge boost to an already strong postseason bid.
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