Full Breakdown
Red Sox Lose Roman Anthony to Hand Injury in Wild-Card Series
By Drooid · · How we work
Immediate Impact on the Series
Boston’s 22-year-old outfielder/ designated hitter Roman Anthony was removed from the American League Wild-Card roster after the Yankees’ 9-0 win on September 29, 2026. The move leaves the Red Sox without one of their few power threats as they face elimination in Game 2. Manager Chad Tracy confirmed that Anthony’s hand “flared” during two checked swings in the first game and that imaging revealed “additional damage to some muscles in his wrist that weren’t there before.” The roster substitution makes Anthony ineligible for the remainder of the Wild-Card series and, should Boston advance, for the AL Division Series as well.
Injury History and Season Context
Anthony first injured his right hand on a check-swing foul ball on May 4, 2026, suffering a partially torn ligament at the base of his right ring finger. The injury sidelined him for 101 games; he returned later in the season and appeared in 55 regular-season games, posting a .245 batting average, five home runs, 15 RBIs and a .735 OPS. Throughout September he reported intermittent discomfort, describing the sensation as a “zinger” that usually subsided. The latest imaging shows both a recurrence of the original ligament issue and new muscular strains in the wrist.
Roster Change and Eligibility Rules
The Red Sox activated infielder Curtis Mead as Anthony’s replacement. Mead, acquired from the Washington Nationals on July 25, 2026, fractured his left wrist in his second Red Sox game on July 27, 2026 and has not played since. MLB approved the substitution, which automatically bars Anthony from returning until the AL Championship Series, per league rules governing roster changes after the Wild-Card round.
Player Reaction
He noted that the pain had become “super alarming” and that gripping a bat was no longer possible.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I know there’s enough there, and enough new stuff there, where [Anthony] is not gonna be able to play,” — Chad Tracy, manager
- “It’s grinding on him, for sure,” — Chad Tracy, manager
- “Obviously, everything he's gone through this year, dealing with these different things, it's tough for him," Tracy said.” — Chad Tracy, manager
- “He's upset. Mentally going through it, he wants to be out there. He wants to be out there with the guys,” — Chad Tracy, manager
- “You'll get a zinger every once in a while where you feel something, it's fine, it goes away,” — Chad Tracy, manager
- “Additional damage to some muscles in his wrist that weren’t there before,” — Chad Tracy, manager
What’s Next for the Red Sox
With Anthony unavailable, Boston will start left-fielder Nate Eaton and use Jahmai Jones as the leadoff designated hitter in Game 2. Sonny Gray is slated to start against Yankees left-hander Max Fried. The Red Sox must win to stay alive; a loss ends their season. If they advance, Anthony will remain on the injured list through the ALDS, making his return dependent on further medical evaluation after the postseason.