Portland, Maine – Boston Red Sox shortstop prospect Roman Anthony made his first appearance on the baseball diamond since May 4, stepping in for the Double‑A Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday night. The 24‑year‑old was working his way back from a partially torn ligament at the base of his ring finger, and he quickly showed he was ready to compete.
Immediate impact at the plate
Anthony entered the game in the fifth inning with a runner on first and two outs. On the first pitch, a breaking ball, he drove the ball deep into the night sky, sending a mammoth home run out of Hadlock Field. The blast traveled well beyond the outfield fence, providing an early spark for the Sea Dogs.
Earlier in the third inning, Anthony added a sharp single to the lineup, lining a ball toward shortstop before third‑base defender Carson DeMartini could make a play. He then drew a walk off Reading starter Luke Russo in his first plate appearance, fouling off a curveball on a 1‑1 count before taking four pitches for a second walk following the home run.
When a pinch runner replaced him later in the inning, Anthony left the game 2‑for‑2 with a home run, a single and two walks, a strong showing for a player still recovering from injury.
Team outlook and next steps
Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said the team will monitor Anthony’s feeling on the upcoming “scheduled hybrid day” before deciding whether he will start again on Wednesday. The Red Sox are hopeful the performance will accelerate his return to the major‑league roster.
Anthony’s rehab stint follows a recent appearance for the Triple‑A Worcester Red Sox, where he started at shortstop and batted second for the WooSox. In that game, he recorded a single and drew two walks, while teammate Story struggled at the plate, going 0‑for‑3 before the team finally recorded a hit in the seventh inning.
Other prospects in the minors
Red Sox second‑ranked prospect Justin Gonzales also made his Double‑A debut, reaching base with singles in his first two at‑bats and finishing 2‑for‑5 with a run scored in Portland’s 7‑5 victory. Top prospect Franklin Arias started at second base for the WooSox in Worcester, while Isiah Kiner‑Falefa is slated for his first rehab appearance on Wednesday.
The Sea Dogs’ win and Anthony’s early success provide a hopeful sign for Boston’s farm system as the organization looks ahead to the final stretch of the season.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
