Red Sox S Alex Cora Reveals Message To Roman Anthony After Devastating

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 4:42 PM

red sox s alex cora reveals message to roman anthony after devastating

What do you say to your star rookie when he learns he's going to miss the most exciting part of the baseball season? Roman Anthony was quickly becoming the heartbeat of the Boston Red Sox lineup. He put up an .859 OPS and 3.1 bWAR in his first 71 games, and the Red Sox were 44-27 in games he played. But disaster struck at pretty much the worst possible time. After suffering an oblique strain during a fourth-inning at-bat against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, the Red Sox learned Anthony would likely be out for about six weeks, as manager Alex Cora was glum... Anthony was supposed to be the Red Sox's leadoff hitter for every important game the rest of the way.

Instead, he'll be watching from the sideline. It truly isn't fair, but the baseball schedule is unforgiving. In the meantime, Cora told Anthony the only thing he can do is visualize a return during the later rounds of the playoffs -- if the Red Sox can somehow get themselves there without... The Boston Red Sox will be without Roman Anthony for an extended period of time. Anthony has an oblique strain that could sideline him for four to six weeks, according to Alex Cora. Anthony exited Tuesday's game early and now the Red Sox know they will likely have to finish the regular season without him.

Anthony's absence could factor into the Red Sox's postseason if the initial timeline is correct. Anthony has been a star in his early run with the team, and Cora revealed what he told Anthony after suffering an injury at such a crucial time. "I told him to envision (American League Championship Series), first at-bat," Cora said Wednesday, per MassLive's Christopher Smith. "That's what I told him. Just put that goal in your mind and hopefully it happens." Anthony has already signed a long-term extension, so the Red Sox are hoping he can make an impact for years to come, and they'll likely take their time with him.

However, it's hard to deny that losing him significantly hurts the team. BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora had a straightforward message for Roman Anthony after an MRI revealed that the Red Sox star rookie suffered a left oblique strain. “I told him to envision ALCS, first at-bat,” Cora said Wednesday. “That’s what I told him. Just put that goal in your mind and hopefully it happens.” Anthony is not setting a timeline for his return from an oblique strain but vows to work hard to return as soon as possible.

A 4-to-6 week absence is about typical for this type of injury, Cora said. Anthony left Tuesday’s game after his fourth inning at-bat with left oblique tightness. Boston put him on the 10-day injured list earlier Wednesday and recalled Nick Sogard. Exactly four weeks would be Oct. 1 and six weeks would be Oct. 15.

The Boston Red Sox haven't made it official just yet, but according to manager Alex Cora, Roman Anthony is going to be missing in action for the next four to six weeks. The Red Sox skipper confirmed on WEEI that Anthony suffered an oblique strain, and Boston's rookie will now be sidelined for over a month. This was obviously the direction things were headed after Anthony prematurely exited Tuesday's game and was scheduled for an MRI. Fans were hopeful at first that the outfielder merely suffered a simple back injury that could be cured by a couple days off. But Cora's proclamation revealed that isn't the case. If this timetable is correct, Anthony will likely miss the AL Wild Card round, and if the Red Sox are fortunate enough to advance in the postseason, he could miss the American League Division...

These types of injuries can be tricky, and while the four-to-six week timeline gives Red Sox fans hope, there's always the risk of a setback. The Red Sox had bee riding a wave of momentum for most of the second-half of the 2025 season. Heading into play on Wednesday, Boston is in a virtual tie with their AL East rival, the New York Yankees, have rattled off three straight wins and seven of their last 10 games, while... Roman Anthony is headed to the IL and could miss 4-6 weeks with an oblique strain, per Alex Cora on @WEEI. pic.twitter.com/KayjpZIfcZ The Boston Red Sox were dealt a significant blow to their postseason aspirations with the announcement that rookie sensation Roman Anthony will be sidelined for four to six weeks with an oblique strain.

The injury, which occurred during Tuesday’s game, likely means the talented outfielder will miss the remainder of the regular season as Boston battles for playoff positioning. Manager Alex Cora revealed the disappointing news on Wednesday, though he immediately tried to instill optimism in his young star by encouraging him to visualize his return during a potential American League Championship Series. “I told him to envision ALCS, first at-bat,” Cora said, according to MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “That’s what I told him. Just put that goal in your mind and hopefully it happens.” The timeline suggests Anthony could potentially return if the Red Sox make a deep October run, adding a compelling storyline to Boston’s pursuit... Anthony’s absence creates a significant void in Boston’s lineup during the most crucial stretch of the season.

The young outfielder has been nothing short of remarkable during his brief major league career, slashing an impressive .292/.396/.463 through 71 games with eight home runs and 32 RBIs. His consistent production and mature approach at the plate have made him one of the Red Sox’s most valuable contributors despite his rookie status. The organization clearly recognizes his long-term importance, having already secured him with a contract extension that demonstrates their belief in his future. While the team will undoubtedly exercise caution with their prized prospect’s recovery, the timing of the injury couldn’t be worse for a Boston team engaged in a heated division race with the New York... The Red Sox entered Wednesday’s games positioned 2½ games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East standings, tied with their archrivals, the New York Yankees. This three-team battle for division supremacy has intensified as the season enters its final stretch, with each game carrying significant playoff implications.

Even without Anthony, Boston remains in a favorable position to secure postseason baseball, though the path to the World Series becomes considerably more challenging without one of their most consistent performers. The injury creates an opportunity for other players to step up, but replacing Anthony’s production and defensive skills presents a formidable challenge for Cora and his coaching staff as they navigate the remaining regular... Oblique strains are particularly troublesome injuries for baseball players, especially hitters, as the area is heavily involved in the rotational mechanics of swinging a bat. The recovery timeline of four to six weeks represents a best-case scenario, and the Red Sox will need to be patient with Anthony’s rehabilitation to prevent any setbacks that could further delay his return... While the initial prognosis puts Anthony’s regular season in jeopardy, Cora’s comments suggest the team is operating with the hope that a postseason return remains possible. The manager’s specific mention of visualizing an ALCS at-bat indicates confidence in both Anthony’s recovery potential and the team’s ability to advance deep into October even without their young star for the initial playoff...

Despite the significant setback, there’s a silver lining in the situation. Anthony has already proven his major league readiness and secured his future with the organization through his contract extension. This allows both player and team to take a long-term perspective on his recovery, ensuring he returns fully healthy rather than rushing back prematurely. For the 2024 Red Sox, the immediate challenge involves reconfiguring their lineup and outfield defense to compensate for Anthony’s absence. The injury creates an opportunity for depth players to make meaningful contributions during the season’s most important games. Cora’s leadership will be crucial during this period, as he works to maintain the team’s competitive edge while navigating the psychological impact of losing a key contributor at such a critical juncture.

Wednesday was a tough day for the Boston Red Sox. First, they found out that star rookie Roman Anthony will miss the rest of the regular season with an oblique injury. Then they got blown out by the Cleveland Guardians 8-1 at Fenway Park. Fortunately, the Red Sox are still in good shape. They’re 15 games over .500 and control a wild card spot, so they just need to hang on for a few more weeks until the playoffs start. They can’t afford to get too down or lose focus so close to the finish line.

While Boston is still reeling from the Anthony news, manager Alex Cora is doing his best to keep his team upbeat. They still have 21 regular-season games remaining, plus potential postseason games. With Anthony expected to miss four-to-six weeks, there’s a chance he could return in October. Cora told him to focus on that as he works his way back over the next month. MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Boston Red Sox at Atlanta Braves Jun 1, 2025 Cumberland, Georgia, USA Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora 13 shown in the dugout before the game against the Atlanta Braves... Cumberland Truist Park Georgia USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xDalexZaninex 20250601_dwz_sz2_0000018

MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Boston Red Sox at Atlanta Braves Jun 1, 2025 Cumberland, Georgia, USA Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora 13 shown in the dugout before the game against the Atlanta Braves... Cumberland Truist Park Georgia USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xDalexZaninex 20250601_dwz_sz2_0000018 The pressure was real—late innings, lights buzzing, and the crowd locked in. With the game on the line, a high-stakes decision unfolded that instantly drew heat. It was the bottom of the seventh, two outs, runner at first, Red Sox trailing 5-4. The left-handed reliever, Taylor Rogers, was ready for the Reds.

Sitting on the bench was a red-hot lefty killer—a $2 million veteran with a .942 OPS against southpaws this season. However, instead of calling the slugger, Alex Cora stuck with the 21-year-old rookie, Roman Anthony, still earning the stripes. The outcome? A swinging strikeout, momentum lost, and lastly, the game. That $2M veteran was Rob Refsnyder, and by all logic, he looked like the perfect call. Yet Alex Cora had other plans.

When asked related to the snub, the manager’s reaction was simple but telling: “Nah. We didn’t hit for Roman in Anaheim the other day in the eighth. So he’s gonna hit.” Cora was not managing by the numbers; he was managing by belief, and this belief rested on Baseball America’s No. 1 prospect, who had struck out just moments earlier on a 79.6 mph sweeper. It was not, apparently, Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s favorite thing, to trot out the best prospect in baseball, after he was finally called up to Boston, and stick him in the lineup as...

There were times he had no choice, of course, as the Red Sox feature a terrific outfield with Ceddanne Rafaela in center, Wilyer Abreu in right and Jarren Duran in left field. To get Anthony’s bat in the lineup, there were times Cora had to DH him. In his first 38 games, Anthony was the DH 13 times. If Cora has his way, he will never have to put Anthony there again. “I don’t like the kid to be a DH. Never, hopefully, while I’m managing,” Cora said.

Red Sox S Alex Cora Reveals Message To Roman Anthony After Devastating

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