Roman Anthony's Oblique Injury Delays Return, Playoff Appearance Unlikely for Red Sox

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow confirmed on September 24, 2025, that rookie star Roman Anthony is not close to resuming baseball activities, making his return for the Wild Card Series highly improbable. Anthony suffered an oblique strain on September 2, with an initial recovery timeline of four to six weeks. Breslow noted that while Anthony is "getting more comfortable," there's "still quite a bit of room to get to" before he can play, according to The Boston Globe. The 21-year-old outfielder proved invaluable in his 71 games this season, batting .292 with an .859 OPS, 18 doubles, a triple, eight home runs, and 32 RBIs. The Red Sox's winning percentage significantly improved with Anthony on the roster (.630) compared to before his call-up (.478) and since his injury (.560). Manager Alex Cora had encouraged Anthony to envision an ALCS at-bat during rehab, a timeline Breslow's update now suggests is more realistic, provided the Red Sox advance deep into the postseason.