Concerned Red Sox Loyalist Issues Clear Roman Anthony Verdict as Team Hit With New Blow Amid Fading Hopes

Roman Anthony saved the season for the Boston Red Sox! He has been nothing but the one player who has gotten Boston to greater heights. Since the June 9 call-up, he has been hitting. 292 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs. And he is widely projected to finish as runner-up in the AL Rookie of the Year. So, as expected, the game against the Guardians had gone great too. Boston managed an 11-7 victory over them. But it came with a cost—the breakout rookie left with left oblique tightness.

Anthony whiffed on a 3-2 curveball in the fourth inning, and one could immediately see the pain taking over him. He winced, grabbed his side, and walked off to the dugout. Nate Eaton then took over for him in the right field.

Now the team has mentioned that Anthony will have an MRI on Wednesday morning. But given that he exited the game gingerly, it is making the Boston fans anxious. Anthony, though, mentioned, ​​”I’m hoping for the best and staying positive. But any time I’m not out there … it sucks.” And well, even the baseball insiders are sounding the alarm bells.

NESN, in their broadcast, mentioned that Anthony has had back injury issues and came back pretty quickly, but the oblique is a different ballgame.“Now for the oblique, that’s something more serious because that’s your core. Sure. And you get so much in your swing generated from your core and your obliques. Exactly. It’s on the side of it. It’s not connected to your back necessarily. This is something that, just like a back, you need to take seriously. Makes sense to pull him out of the game… I’m not too concerned, but I am concerned for this season,” said the hosts of NESN, and it does make sense.

The concern for the team is that this injury couldn’t come at a rougher time in Boston. Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the Braves pushed the Sox to 78-63 on the season, leaving them just 2.5 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. If the season ended today, then Boston would grab one of the AL’s three wild-card spots. But with their playoffs entering their most important stretch, the health of their rookie is very much a concern.

Meanwhile, Anthony has admitted that the pain is worse than what he went through last month, when he was not there for two games. For now, he is not sure how long the recent injury will sideline him. “I wish I knew. I haven’t dealt with something like this before, so I’d be lying if I said I knew. But we’ll know in the morning, I’m sure.” For sure, Boston fans might be counting on their angels that the MRI comes back with nothing brutal.

How can Boston survive if Roman Anthony goes down?

Now what is done cannot be undone, and all Boston can do is wait and hope for the best. But if the news is not good, then the front office might be forced to pivot, and well, they do have options. The most obvious solution would be to recall their No. 3 prospect, Jhostynxon García. He already got a taste of the big league earlier this summer, when Wilyer Abreu got injured. Plus, with Abreu still sidelined, Garcia makes a natural replacement if Anthony joins him.

The 21-year-old has been slashing. 282/.359/.499 with 20 homers and 73 RBIs in 102 games in the minors. Plus, he has shown immense defensive versatility, given he spent time in all three outfield spots and even first base. However, if not him, then even Kristian Campbell could be in the picture. Promoting him would give the Boston Red Sox a high-upside bat. Sure, it is a tempting idea, given Campbell has the pop to make an impact. But even then, Garcia feels like a safe bet given his performance has been steady.

Then there is also Masataka Yoshida, but he doesn’t appear likely to get an extended run in the outfield now; Garcia honestly seems to be the one who can give the Boston Red Sox a natural transition, given he is young and can step in without forcing Alex Cora to juggle multiple pieces. But for now, Boston fans will hope the things don’t come to this. Because Anthony has been a spark since his call-up, and losing him now when the playoffs are so near would sting badly. They need him in this fight.