Red Sox Activate Roman Anthony and Trevor Story for Yankees Series Finale

Roman Anthony and Trevor Story will rejoin the Boston Red Sox on Sunday after completing rehab assignments at Triple-A Worcester.

The Boston Red Sox (74-62) will activate Roman Anthony and Trevor Story for Sunday’s series finale against the New York Yankees (77-59). Interim manager Chad Tracy confirmed the returns on Saturday, noting that while the duo is set to rejoin the major league club, the specific 26-man roster moves required to accommodate them remain undecided. Boston enters the contest trailing the Yankees by three games for the top American League wild card spot while holding a six-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians (68-68).

Both players were pulled early from their Triple-A Worcester rehab game on Saturday. Observers spotted them leaving the ballpark together with packed bags following the mid-game exit. Anthony, a former top prospect, has been unavailable since May 4 due to lingering injuries in his wrist and finger. Before his stint on the injured list, he recorded a .675 OPS and one home run across 30 games. During his eight-game rehab assignment, he improved those figures significantly, posting a .967 OPS and hitting two home runs.

Injury Timelines and Statistical Recovery

Trevor Story has not appeared in a Red Sox lineup since May 14. The two-time All-Star underwent sports hernia surgery on May 22, a point in the season when Boston held an 18-25 record. Before the procedure, Story struggled at the plate, producing a .547 OPS through 41 games. In his absence, the Red Sox utilized a rotation of Andruw Monasterio, Nick Sogard, and Tsung-Che Cheng to manage the shortstop position.

Despite the loss of these two starters, Boston surged into postseason contention. All-Star first baseman Willson Contreras emphasized the importance of their return, stating that the team needs them despite the success found during their absence. Contreras acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming roster decisions, noting that the current lineup has performed exceptionally well over the last three months to put the team in playoff position.

Roster Impact and Positional Depth

Anthony is expected to resume his previous role, which involves alternating between left field and the designated hitter spot. The integration of Story presents a more complex situation for the coaching staff given the contributions of the fill-in shortstops. Tracy told reporters on Saturday, "They're coming. Not sure what we're doing yet [with the roster], and we'll figure that out."

Contreras highlighted that the team could not have achieved its current standing without the work of the players currently on the active roster. The Red Sox must now designate two players for assignment or option them to the minors to make room for the returning veterans. The club has managed to flip its season from seven games under .500 in mid-May to 12 games over .500 entering the final game in the Bronx.

Final Stretch in the American League

The return of Anthony’s power—demonstrated by his .967 OPS in the minors—adds a significant bat to a lineup that Contreras described as putting in intense work for three months. The Red Sox are looking to solidify their hold on the second wild card spot as they face their division rivals. While the Yankees hold the lead in the wild card standings, the addition of a healthy Story and a resurgent Anthony provides Boston with veteran experience and prospect power for the final month of the regular season.