Red Sox get encouraging MRI on Roman Anthony, progress reported for Garrett Crochet’s throwing

The Boston Red Sox received a pair of medical updates Tuesday that landed squarely on the same question, how soon their recovering players can return to meaningful baseball activity. The focus was outfielder Roman Anthony, whose right ring finger remains a work-in-progress after a partially torn tendon. The organization said a follow-up MRI showed the injury is healing properly, an encouraging development that keeps his long-term recovery on track even as he is not yet cleared to swing.

Anthony’s injury began about six weeks earlier, and Monday marked that six-week anniversary. While the Red Sox stopped short of declaring any immediate return to hitting, the team’s description of the scan as showing proper healing suggests the next phase, testing function and strength with baseball-specific movements, is still progressing as planned. For now, the key limitation is still the same: he has not been cleared to swing, which means his road back to games depends on continued tendon stability and comfort during controlled baseball actions.

Injuries to the tendons that control grip and bat angles can have ripple effects beyond just pain. Even when swelling decreases, athletes typically need time to regain the strength and reliability required for batting, especially during the high-torque loads of swings. Boston’s decision to wait on clearance before allowing Anthony to swing reflects that caution, and Tuesday’s update framed the MRI result as supportive of the healing process rather than a report that he is ready to resume batting instruction.

The Red Sox’s second update involved Garrett Crochet, a starting rotation piece who has been working through his own return plan. Boston reported that Crochet is getting closer to throwing, indicating that his progression is moving beyond rest and into more active, sport-specific work. A “closer to throwing” step often indicates the transition to bullpen-like efforts after medical evaluation and a gradual ramp-up of arm care, though the team did not outline a specific timetable for when he could face hitters.

Taken together, the updates matter for a Red Sox team that is balancing short-term roster needs with longer-term development goals. Roman Anthony is not simply a depth piece. He represents part of Boston’s player-building pipeline as a young outfielder whose development track could be shaped significantly by how quickly he can regain full hitting readiness after finger tendon damage. Even small setbacks in tendon timelines can delay batting reps, timing, and defensive rhythms, so the emphasis on “proper healing” is a meaningful confirmation for the organization’s calendar.

Crochet, meanwhile, is a profile-defining arm for any pitching staff. Progress toward throwing carries weight because it can shift planning for rotation depth and bullpen usage, even before a return date is announced. When pitchers are approaching the point where they can begin throwing again, teams typically start aligning workload expectations, demoting and promoting responsibilities accordingly, and considering the strain of getting back up to starter volume if and when he returns to the rotation.

For fans, the next markers to watch are straightforward. Anthony’s next clearance decision, specifically when he is approved to swing and then progress through hitting activities, will determine how quickly his development can resume in a game-like context. For Crochet, the next visible sign will be whether Boston confirms a throwing program and then moves from that stage toward game readiness. Until either is cleared for their next baseball step, the Red Sox’s immediate focus will remain consistent, protecting the healing process while searching for the most efficient path back to live action.