The Boston Red Sox are placing outfielder Roman Anthony on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right wrist, the team announced Thursday before the start of a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
Anthony, 21, injured the wrist during his first at-bat of Monday’s game at Detroit and flew back to Boston to be examined by the team’s hand specialist, Dr. Matthew Leibman. Interim manager Chad Tracy said Anthony had not shown enough progression to avoid the IL move, adding, “Still sore. I think it’s more of a case of, ‘How are we willing to play short-handed?’ We’ve already done it for two days.”
Wearing a brace on his hand, Anthony said he has not picked up a bat since the injury and expressed optimism the absence will be limited to the 10 days. “Obviously not where I want to be, but just got to keep getting better every day,” he said. “The hand is tricky and I’ve never dealt with a hand issue before. Getting the news that it’s nothing serious is the best news we’ve could have gotten. When the IL stint is over, I plan to be in that game the next day and off the IL.”
The report says Anthony signed last year as a rookie to an eight-year, $130 million contract and has started slowly this season, hitting .229 with one home run in 130 plate appearances. “Just got to get better as fast as I can,” Anthony said.
Per the report, this is Anthony’s second stint on the injured list in as many seasons; last year he missed most of September and Boston’s wild-card playoff series against the New York Yankees after suffering an oblique strain. The Red Sox have recalled Mickey Gasper from Triple-A Worcester to take Anthony’s spot on the roster.
