Roman Anthony looked primed for an MVP-type season in his first full year with the Boston Red Sox, but a brutal partial tear of a tendon in his right finger back in May absolutely crushed those hopes. He got put on the IL for nearly four months, and let’s be real, the guy hasn’t looked quite like himself since he got back on the field. This isn’t just a tough break for Anthony, it’s a massive problem for the Red Sox as they gear up for the MLB postseason.
The “Biggest Disappointment” Stings Boston’s Playoff Drive
ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle didn’t pull any punches, calling Anthony’s “injury-marred” season the biggest disappointment of the year for the Red Sox. And honestly, it’s hard to argue. The team definitely needs more production from him if they want to make any noise in the postseason. Doolittle wrote that this injury-hit season by their cornerstone outfielder contributed big time to Boston’s slow start, especially with Jarren Duran already struggling and seemingly unable to break out of it. Losing a guy expected to put up MVP numbers, and then seeing him not fully recover his form, has got to be a gut punch when you’re trying to make a deep run. It just sucks seeing a young talent like that have his season derailed.
The Numbers Tell a Tough Story, But There’s a Path Back
Before that finger injury, Anthony was absolutely lights out. At just 21 years old, he had a crazy 140 OPS+ and a 3.3 bWAR over just 71 games. That’s MVP-level stuff right there, no doubt. But since coming back? His OPS+ has dipped to 103. He’s carrying a 104 OPS+ overall, which is decent, but his 27% strikeout rate in 196 plate appearances is a real concern. That’s too many swings and misses for a guy who’s supposed to be a cornerstone of the offense, especially when the stakes are this high. We all know the power is there, he smacked eight home runs during his rookie year. If Anthony can cut down on those strikeouts and find that power stroke again, the Red Sox’ lineup becomes way more dangerous. It’s a huge “if” right now, but man, they need it.
A Glimmer of Hope As Postseason Looms
The good news is, Anthony might finally be finding his groove again. In his last five games, he’s swinging a hot bat, racking up a four-game hit streak. Plus, he’s added a homer and three RBIs in that span. That’s the kind of production Boston has been desperate for, and it’s coming at just the right time. For the Red Sox, getting Roman Anthony back to anything close to his pre-injury form is probably the key to their postseason hopes. They’re going to need every ounce of that talent he showed early on if they want to go anywhere. It’s go time, and the pressure is on for him to deliver.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply