Roman Anthony has missed most of the season with a torn ligament in his ring finger, but he has started making progress in his rehab.
A couple of weeks ago, Anthony was taking swings and hitting off a tee. He has reportedly progressed to hitting off a high-velocity Trajekt machine. According to MassLive's Chris Cotillo, Chad Tracy said he is "getting closer" to a rehab assignment.
Anthony was off to a slow start to the year after playing great in the World Baseball Classic. He was great last season in the 71 games he played, and after signing an extension, he was expected to be the best hitter on the team. Instead, he has spent most of the season on the shelf.
The Red Sox season was a disaster early on, but a 15-game win streak and a drastic turnaround have saved the season. It has put them in a position to actually get Anthony back instead of shutting him down in a lost season. Adding Anthony to the lineup could make an elite offense even better.
Last season, he had an .859 OPS and was an American League Rookie of the Year finalist, despite limited action. Jarren Duran is hitting .202 this year, and replacing him with Anthony in left field will be a huge upgrade. Anthony still has some hurdles to clear before returning, but he is headed in the right direction, it seems.
Ideally, the Red Sox would want him back midway through September so he can get at-bats and be ready to roll in October.
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