Red Sox eye reinforcements with Anthony, Story, IKF slated for rehab stints

PITTSBURGH -- The Red Sox figure to have a much sturdier lineup for the final stretch of the regular season, as three key players -- Roman Anthony the most notable among them -- will open Minor League rehab assignments in the coming days.

First out of the chute will be veteran Trevor Story, who will play shortstop at Triple-A Worcester on Sunday afternoon, marking his first game action since May 14. The right-handed hitter is making his way back from a sports hernia injury that limited him offensively and defensively in his 41 games before he went on the injured list.

Up next will be outfielder/designated hitter Anthony, who will join Double-A Portland for the start of a home series on Tuesday, marking his first game since May 4, when he suffered a partial tear of a tendon connected to his right ring finger while taking an awkward check-swing on a foul ball in Detroit.

Rounding out the rehabbing trio will be valuable utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who will join Story with Worcester on Wednesday during a road series in Syracuse.

“Good players that are getting healthy is a good sign,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. “So obviously, we’ve still got to get ‘em through the rehab outings. It’s a combination of, physically getting them right, feeling good, and also accumulating some at-bats. So there's still work to be done, but having three of those guys going out and getting healthy is exciting for sure.”

The return of Anthony should wind up being the most impactful for the Red Sox, considering many had projected him for a breakout first full season in the Majors.

In 2025, Anthony played in 71 games before suffering a season-ending right oblique strain on Sept. 2, slashing .292/.396/.463 with 18 doubles, eight homers and an OPS+ of 140 in 303 plate appearances.

Though Anthony struggled to find his rhythm at the plate in his 30 games (.229/.354/.321, one homer, five RBIs) before this season’s injury, he was starting to come around before that fateful check swing in Detroit.

In particular, Anthony can be of benefit for the Sox at the leadoff spot, which has been a revolving door all season.

Entering Saturday’s game against the Pirates, here is where the Red Sox ranked in the leadoff spot among the 30 MLB teams:

• last in OPS (.651)
• last in BA (.214)
• 29th in OBP (.297)
• 28th in SLG (.354)

Anthony started the season rotating with Jarren Duran between left field and DH. Duran has struggled to find his footing at the plate offensively this season (.202 average, .615 OPS), though he does have 16 homers.

While Duran has played regularly in left against righties with Anthony out with Masataka Yoshida (.741 OPS) as the primary DH against righties for the last couple of months, it remains to be seen how Tracy will divvy up the playing time if all three players are active at the same time.

Yoshida suffered a left hamstring injury while hustling for a double in the third inning on Saturday, and it’s unclear how long he will be out.

The Red Sox will be more than happy to figure out a logjam, if, in fact, there is one. For now, they are just happy that Anthony has cleared the hurdle during a frustrating IL stint in which he went weeks without being able to swing the bat without discomfort in his right hand and wrist.

In the weeks leading into the Trade Deadline, there were many rumors about the Red Sox pursuing a shortstop. Instead, they acquired catcher Adley Rutschman as their major Deadline move, providing a chance for Story to claim his spot back in the lineup when he returns.

Andruw Monasterio has been hot at the plate the past few weeks, but he has had some inconsistency defensively at shortstop. Franklin Arias, MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 prospect, is viewed as the team’s shortstop of the future and it’s not out of the realm of possibility he could be called on at some point this season.

while hustling for a double in the third inning on Saturday, and it’s unclear how long he will be out.

The Red Sox will be more than happy to figure out a logjam, if, in fact, there is one. For now, they are just happy that Anthony has cleared the hurdle during a frustrating IL stint in which he went weeks without being able to swing the bat without discomfort in his right hand and wrist.

In the weeks leading into the Trade Deadline, there were many rumors about the Red Sox pursuing a shortstop. Instead, they acquired catcher Adley Rutschman as their major Deadline move, providing a chance for Story to claim his spot back in the lineup when he returns.

Andruw Monasterio has been hot at the plate the past few weeks, but he has had some inconsistency defensively at shortstop. Franklin Arias, MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 prospect, is viewed as the team’s shortstop of the future and it’s not out of the realm of possibility he could be called on at some point this season.

Tracy was noncommittal when asked if Story might play other positions besides short during his rehab. Story did a stellar job playing second base for the 2022 Red Sox, when Xander Bogaerts was still the team’s shortstop.

“The initial games we have mapped out, which we don't have them mapped out really too far yet, Trevor's going to play short. [Kiner-Falefa] is going to play second,” Tracy said. “And as we check in with them on how they're feeling, and we start advancing innings and at-bats, we'll keep looking at that, but I think that's where we're at right now.”