The Red Sox, already an MLB-best 27-12 (.692) since the All-Star break, have made their recent strides without two critical pieces in Roman Anthony (partially torn tendon in right ring finger) and Trevor Story (sports hernia). That may be about to change.
As the Red Sox traveled to New York ahead of a critical four-game weekend series against the Yankees, Anthony and Story, both currently on rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester, elected to use the club's day off Thursday to get a few more at-bats in before being re-evaluated for a potential Friday return to the Majors.
In nine rehab games, Story is 5-for-32 (.156) with three RBIs, a walk and 10 strikeouts. He remained without an extra-base hit through Thursday. Anthony, for his part, has gone 7-for-23 (.304) with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs in seven games split between Worcester and Double-A Portland.
The Red Sox have yet to really feel either player's impact this season. Anthony, coming off his brilliant rookie campaign, hit .229 with one home run and five RBIs in 30 games before sustaining what was initially called a right wrist sprain. Not originally thought to be a long-term concern, issues arose when the 22-year-old was unable to resume swinging without discomfort.
After a few attempts, he was shut down again in late May. It was later clarified that Anthony had in fact suffered a partial tear of a tendon in his right ring finger, and it wasn't until the end of July that he was able to swing the bat pain-free.
Story, limited to 163 total games over his first three seasons with the Red Sox from 2022-24, rebounded brilliantly in 2025, hitting .263 with 25 home runs, 96 RBIs and 31 stolen bases in 157 games. However, bothered since Spring Training by what the club had classified as a right groin injury, the veteran shortstop had gotten off to a much slower start in 2026 (.206 average, three homers, 19 RBIs in 41 games) before further examination revealed a sports hernia, for which he underwent surgery on May 21.