In Portland, Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony looks to resurrect his season
Roman Anthony stands in the on-deck circle prior to his third at-bat for the Sea Dogs on Tuesday at Hadlock Field in Portland. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
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In his third at bat in the bottom of the fifth inning of his first rehab game with the Portland Sea Dogs, Roman Anthony reminded us how good he can be. First pitch, a blast to right field over the visitor’s bullpen, 108 miles per hour off the bat and into Fitzpatrick Stadium. No doubt. Jaw-dropping. Did you see that? Gone.
A few hours earlier, Anthony took batting practice at Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field on Tuesday afternoon, like he had so many times when he played for the Sea Dogs. Through five rounds thrown by Portland manager Kyle Sasala, Anthony sprayed the ball around the field. He hit some off the Maine Monster. He hit some over it, or off the video board to its right.
Anthony swung the bat pain-free, with media from across Red Sox Nation watching, and Red Sox fans everywhere waiting for an update. It might’ve been the most anticipated minor league batting practice of the season.
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“It just felt weird to finally be here. It’s been a long process for me, and took a lot longer than I could’ve expected when I first (got injured),” Anthony said shortly after stepping out of the batting cage.
Anthony’s rehab stint in Portland is the next step in what has to be the most scrutinized finger injury in this region since Tom Brady hyperextended his right thumb in practice leading up to the 2018 AFC championship game.
Anthony hit second in the Sea Dogs lineup and was the designated hitter Tuesday against the Reading Fightin Phils. The plan is for him to play some outfield while he’s in Portland. There’s no time table for his return to Boston, he said. After Tuesday’s game, he’d plan for Wednesday’s, and so on.
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In his first at-bat Tuesday, Anthony drew loud applause from sellout crowd of 6,868, then worked the count full to take a walk. In the bottom of the third inning, Anthony lined a single to left field.
Then that third plate appearance, with the crack of the bat that echoed all the way to Fenway Park. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Anthony took a four pitch walk and was replaced by pinch runner Ahbram Liendo.
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“First day back, you’re just kind of going out there and playing like a kid again,” Anthony said. “After that first at bat, I got a little comfortable, and then opened it up there a little bit … I try not to get too excited about one day of performance, but it was good.”
Before Tuesday, Anthony hadn’t played since May 4. He went on the injured list on May 7 with what originally was thought to be a minor injury. Turned out it was a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger, causing pain in his hand and wrist with every attempt to swing a bat.
If you were confused as to why the injury went from being considered minor to one that kept Anthony off the field for more than three months, well, so was Anthony. In May, he took swings in pain. In July, he saw Dr. Gary Lourie, a hand specialist in Atlanta, to get a second opinion.
“Man, this is just a finger injury. Why is this taking so long? There’s no way this is going to make me miss the entire year,” he said. “For me, looking at it from a non-medical standpoint, when I hear finger that doesn’t seem too intense. Obviously I learned that’s not the case.”
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In early July, the Red Sox sent Anthony to their training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, to continue his rehab. The move raised questions as to why the team didn’t want Anthony in Boston, but it was the right move, he said. Fort Myers was a place he could focus on getting healthy, away from the spotlight that comes with Boston. That said, it stung to be away from the ball club as it went on the torrid run that propelled it back into the playoff mix.
“For me, it sucks when you have to leave the group of guys and you’re not there every day. I didn’t get to see what happened when I was gone. It’s good to be back up north,” Anthony said.
Watching the start of Anthony’s season was like listening to your favorite album only to find a scratch. Anthony began 2026 with more promise and potential than any Red Sox player in recent memory, and he struggled.
In 30 games and 109 at bats, Anthony had just one home run and five RBI, with 12 runs scored. His average was .229, his slugging percentage just .321. Nowhere near the expectations he set with a strong 2025 season and in the World Baseball Classic this spring.
In that regard, is this rehab stint in Portland a chance for Anthony to hit the reset button?
“I don’t ever feel like I have anything to prove, to be honest. Our team’s playing great baseball. I’m just looking to get in there and help win games and continue to win games. They’ve been winning in every way possible,” Anthony said. “The biggest thing for me is getting back here in these rehab games and getting my feet underneath me and feeling like I play baseball again because it’s felt like forever.”
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A healthy Anthony can only help the Red Sox down the stretch in a pennant race. If he’s playing at his best, or close to what he showed as a rookie last season, Anthony’s addition to the lineup will be big for a team that can use another dependable bat.
“For me, being out here on the field, is what gives me more peace than anything,” Anthony said. “To get out of Fort Myers and be able to come back here and play a baseball game today is a blessing.”
A lot of Red Sox fans are thinking the same thing.
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Tagged: boston red sox, portland sea dogs, Sports Columns, travis lazarczyk
Travis Lazarczyk has covered sports for the Portland Press Herald since 2021. A Vermont native, he graduated from the University of Maine in 1995 with a BA in English. After a few years working as a sports. More by Travis Lazarczyk
