Full Breakdown
Roman Anthony’s Wrist Sprain Sends Boston Red Sox to 10-Day IL
5/8/2026, 10:00:16 PM
Injury and IL Placement
Boston placed outfielder Roman Anthony on the 10-day injured list on Thursday, retroactive to Tuesday, after a right-wrist injury on May 4 against Detroit. The club diagnosed a sprained ligament beneath the right ring finger, requiring at least ten days on the IL.
Background
Anthony, 21, signed an eight-year, $130 million extension after a 2025 season in which he hit .292/.396/.463 and finished third in AL Rookie-of-the-Year voting, and was slated to bat near the top of Boston’s order.
Timeline
- May 4 – Injury occurs in first inning vs. Tigers.
- May 5 – X-rays negative; hand specialist Dr. Matthew Leibman evaluates.
- May 7 – IL placement announced; catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper recalled.
- May 15 – Earliest date Anthony can be activated.
Statistics
- 2026: .229 AVG, .354 OBP, .321 SLG, .675 OPS, 1 HR, 5 RBI in 30 games (130 PA).
- Red Sox record: 16-22, last in AL East.
- Gasper (Triple-A): .296/.429/.519, 6 HR, 27 RBI in 28 games.
Impact on the Lineup
Anthony’s loss removes a left-handed power bat from the top of the order. Chad Tracy moved Masataka Yoshida to DH and will rely on Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela for outfield depth. The loss threatens the three-game winning streak and the team's last-place standing.
Official Statements
Interim manager Chad Tracy said the wrist “isn’t getting much better” and that the roster could not stay short-handed, prompting the IL move. He added the club remains “optimistic that hopefully it’s not too long.” Roman Anthony told reporters he is “still sore,” that “the hand is tricky and I’ve never dealt with a hand issue before,” and plans to rejoin the lineup when eligible. The Red Sox confirmed Mickey Gasper’s promotion.
Criticism
Jackson Roberts noted that the Red Sox’s upbeat messaging is “a bit hard to believe” given Anthony’s lingering soreness and the team’s need to protect roster depth.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on the injury label—some call it a “right-wrist sprain,” others a “sprained ligament under the right ring finger.” Return-date expectations vary, with a few outlets suggesting an earlier comeback than the May 15 eligibility date. No comment on a possible rehab assignment.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Obviously not where I want to be, but just got to keep getting better every day.” — Roman Anthony
- “The hand is tricky, and I've never dealt with a hand issue before. Getting the news that it's nothing serious is the best news we've could have gotten. When the IL stint is over, I plan to be in that game the next day and off the IL.” — Roman Anthony
- “We’re still optimistic that hopefully it’s not too long, but we’ll keep seeing how he responds,” — Chad Tracy
- “It kind of heals on its own,” — Roman Anthony
What’s Next
Boston opens a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 8 with Gasper on the roster. If Anthony’s recovery proceeds as hoped, he could be activated for the May 15 series opener in Atlanta, giving the Red Sox a chance to restore offensive spark.
