The Boston Red Sox need a spark. Alex Bregman's season-ending injury has taken the wind out of their sails and the thump out of their offense.
Boston has scored just 10 runs in its last five games and it's been walked off in four of its last five road games. The Red Sox are in close games enough to make it to extra innings, but can't get the job done when it counts offensively. All season long, fans have called for Roman Anthony's promotion to the big leagues, and the cries have only gotten louder as Boston slips down the standings. Reporter Christopher Smith of MassLive said it would be "baseball malpractice" if Anthony is not with the Red Sox at the start of their second series against the Braves on May 30, and Boston fans agree.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like Anthony will be in Atlanta tomorrow. He's leading off in the WooSox's lineup on May 29, meaning he won't be on a plane to meet up with the Red Sox at Truist Park. He'll play center field in Worcester's 6:45 p.m. tilt with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate.
Roman Anthony leads off for the WooSox on May 29, casting doubt on May 30 call-up to Red Sox
The Red Sox held Marcelo Mayer out of Worcester's lineup before his promotion to the big leagues, although it came under different circumstances than Anthony's eventual debut. Boston had to announce an injured list stint for Alex Bregman before it could summon Mayer, and the same will (hopefully) not be needed before Anthony's call.
The outfielder has nothing more to prove in the minor leagues. He's slashing .329/.456/.524 with a .980 OPS through 84 games in Triple-A, going back to last season. He hits the ball harder than the average major leaguer, he's walked 44 times with just 45 strikeouts on the year, and he owns a flawless fielding percentage over 181 innings in left field, where he'll most likely suit up for Boston.
The Red Sox's reluctance to call Anthony up despite the team's brutal losing stretch and overall lackluster performance is confusing and inexplicable. The consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball could help lift Boston's offense and morale in the clubhouse, but the front office would rather hold him in the minor leagues to manipulate his service time than have him in the big leagues, catching the eye of Rookie of the Year voters.
Anthony shouldn't be billed as the Red Sox's savior, but something has to change so they don't continue to fall in the AL East standings. Calling Anthony up would help the Red Sox win and placate an increasingly restless fan base. Red Sox Nation and the rest of MLB have no idea what Boston is waiting for — Anthony has proven himself in Triple-A.