Red Sox Set to Activate Roman Anthony and Trevor Story for Sunday Finale in New York
The Boston Red Sox are very likely to activate Roman Anthony and Trevor Story from the injured list ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, injecting high-profile reinforcements into a surging ballclub.
According to reporting from the Boston Globe, Anthony and Story return to a roster that has completely shifted its trajectory since they last played. The team’s turnaround began on June 25, long after Anthony had been sidelined by a partially torn ligament in his right hand and wrist, and weeks after Story underwent surgery for a sports hernia.
Roster Crunch Forces Tough Decisions on Recent Standouts
Making room for two returning stars required difficult front-office choices. As detailed by the Boston Herald, the Red Sox optioned Mickey Gasper and Anthony Seigler to Triple-A Worcester to clear active roster space. Left-hander Raymond Burgos, who served as the 27th man for a Saturday doubleheader, also returned to Worcester.
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Gasper and Seigler provided critical production during the summer months. Gasper tore through major league pitching upon his return, batting .423 with five home runs, 12 RBIs, and a staggering 1.710 OPS across 11 games while serving in a designated hitter platoon alongside Jahmai Jones. Seigler filled valuable gaps as a leadoff hitter and starting second baseman, batting .257 with a .772 OPS through August.
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“I think it’s really important for us to get those guys back. We need them,” said Willson Contreras, reflecting on the locker room’s dynamic and the contributions of the younger players. “It’s also important to recognize the job or the work that the whole lineup has been putting in for the last three months. I think those are tough decisions to make. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but we do have to recognize the job that the guys are doing for this team, and we couldn’t have done what we’ve done without them.”
Rehab Performance and Projected Roles in the Lineup
Anthony figures to step right back into his primary role as a leadoff hitter, left fielder, and designated hitter. Managerial staff indicated plans to bat the 22-year-old at the top of the order against right-handed pitching, while deploying Jahmai Jones against lefties on a day-to-day evaluation basis.
Prior to suffering his hand injury on May 4, Anthony endured an underwhelming start, hitting .229 with one home run and a .675 OPS over 30 games. However, he sharpened his timing during an eight-game minor league rehabilitation assignment split between the Portland Sea Dogs and the Worcester Red Sox, batting .280 with two home runs and two doubles.
Story reclaims the starting shortstop position, though leadership intends to play the hot hand moving forward. Story struggled mightily through the first quarter of the season—batting .206 with three home runs and a .547 OPS across 41 games—before medical evaluations revealed he had been playing through a severe sports hernia.
His 10 rehab appearances with the WooSox yielded a modest .171 average, but he flashed encouraging power in his final tuneup Saturday, launching a double clocked at 104 miles per hour alongside a hard-hit lineout.
Looking Ahead to September Roster Expansion
Additional reinforcements remain in the pipeline. Utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa continues his recovery from a left forearm stress reaction down in Worcester. Because major league rosters expand from 26 to 28 players on Tuesday, the organization will not need to demote another active contributor to accommodate Kiner-Falefa’s eventual return.
For now, all eyes turn to the Bronx as Anthony and Story step back onto the major league diamond, tasked with maintaining the momentum that carried Boston through the heart of the summer.
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