Roman Anthony last appeared in a Boston Red Sox baseball game on May 4. Sox fans were upset to lose Anthony to the injured list at all, but his extended recovery has been making people nervous.
The Red Sox initially thought that Anthony wouldn't need an IL stint for his hurt hand, but three weeks and a Mickey Gasper call-up later show that was a shortsighted announcement. Boston's first inconsistency has led people to wonder if Anthony's diagnosis is even correct (or honest, on the Red Sox's part).
Anthony was first diagnosed with a sprained wrist, then clarified in an interview a few days later that he had a sprained ligament in his fourth finger. Despite this, speculation about the natrure of Anthony's injury is still running rampant on social media and beyond.
The hosts of WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" asked Red Sox CEO and president Sam Kennedy if Anthony has a ligament tear in his fourth finger — one went so far as to tweet about it as if it was fact. Kennedy denied that diagnosis and reiterated that the Red Sox consider his finger sprained. He also noted that Boston had scans done, as well as a second opinion on Anthony's injured hand, both of which confirmed no tear.
Red Sox's Sam Kennedy confirms Roman Anthony has a sprained ligament in finger during May 22 radio appearance
INJURY UPDATE on Roman Anthony- Greg: "I had heard that it was a partially torn ligament in the ring finger..." What is the confirmed injury? Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy joins! #UPDATE #RomanAnthony #News #MLB
— WEEI (@WEEI) May 22, 2026
GHS Road Show presented by @millerlite pic.twitter.com/a9rwbMTIAJ
Still, fans are wondering if the Red Sox are being dishonest about Anthony's injury. The outfielder has already been injured three times by swinging a bat (oblique injury late last season, back tightness in the days before his finger sprain), but giving a shortened injury timeline and purposely causing disappointment when he takes longer to heal doesn't seem wise, or like it serves the organization at all.
Anthony has admitted that the start of his season has been disappointing, in his eyes (subscription required). He's batted .229/.354/.321 with 33 strikeouts and 20 walks over 30 games. He was seemingly warming up offensively when his injury hit because he slashed .269/.345/.346 in his last seven games.
Anthony tried swinging a bat earlier this week but he couldn't progress due to hand pain. Interim manager Chad Tracy has said the sophomore will swing again on Friday to see if he's ready to move forward in his recovery. With any luck, Tracy will be right — Anthony was still one of Boston's best offensive performers in the early goings of the season, despite what his numbers may show.
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