Boston Red Sox
“It’s a good day for me, getting positive news on both of them.”
Roman Anthony is getting closer to a return from a nagging hand injury. Matthew J Lee/The Boston Globe
May 26, 2026 | 6:30 PM
3 minutes to read
Reinforcements might be on the way for the Red Sox in the coming weeks.
Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet have started to show signs of improvement as the duo works their way back from nagging injuries.
Anthony — who has been out since May 4 due to a sprained ligament in his right ring finger — took 12-15 dry swings on Tuesday and “felt much better,” according to Tracy.
Crochet — sidelined since April 25 as a result of left shoulder inflammation — faced live hitters prior to Tuesday’s home game against the Braves, throwing one inning of live batting practice at Fenway Park.
After some mixed results during previous bullpen sessions as he tries to get his mechanics and velocity back up to speed, Crochet was able to get through Tuesday’s abbreviated BP session without issue. Tracy noted that the southpaw’s velocity was hovering in the mid-90s during his time on the mound.
‘Felt good physically. … So it’s a good day for him,” Tracy said of Crochet. “I haven’t talked to him fully yet on it, but he seemed in pretty good spirits.”
As for Anthony, Tracy noted that the 22-year-old outfielder’s previous attempts to come back in a timely fashion have been halted by pain in his right hand while swinging the bat. However, that initial pain has subsided, offering hope that the talented slugger is getting closer to a return.
“Not feeling as much in the front end, just a little bit on like the follow-through in the back end,” Tracy said of the pain Anthony is feeling at this stage of his swing mechanics. “So that’s a positive step. So the next step will be the same thing [Wednesday] — only increasing the volume of the amount of swings he takes. And we can increase activity as his tolerance dictates, but a step in the right direction for him today.”
While Anthony was originally projected to return to the lineup after his initial 10-day stint on the injured list, those timelines shifted last week due to that nagging pain in his hand.
Anthony — who received a cortisone shot in his hand two weeks ago— could be due for a rehab assignment in the minor leagues before getting the green light to return to major-league at-bats.
“So as long as he feels good coming into [Wednesday], we can increase some volume with that and we’ll just keep progressing as he tolerates,” Tracy said of Anthony.
Even with Anthony’s slow start to the 2026 season, a Red Sox lineup lacking some punch atop the batting order could desperately use his keen eye and pop.
Through 30 games so far this season, Anthony is batting .229 with one home run and five RBI.
“You know what he’s capable of doing when he’s in there,” Tracy said of Anthony. “It’s not just, you know, home runs and doubles, he’s got a good eye for the zone. When he’s going right, he doesn’t swing at balls and he finds his way on base.
“So another hitter that gets on base is helpful. Yeah, he means a lot to us. But at the same time, we want him healthy in the lineup. If you have a bad wrist or hand, it’s not going to help us. Having him back, but healthy, is important.”
While there is no set return date for either Anthony or Crochet at this point, Tracy was pleased with the progress that both key cogs have made in recent days.
“They’re two important pieces of the team, so having them — it’s a good day for me, getting positive news on both of them. … Garrett as well, like, a huge piece of our rotation, one of the best pitchers in baseball,” Tracy said. “So getting good news on that and getting closer is a positive step.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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