Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony was scratched from Monday’s lineup just prior to first pitch.
The club announced shortly afterwards that Anthony is dealing with mid back tightness.
The top Red Sox rookie was originally slated to start in right field and bat third in Monday’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals. Anthony went through pregame warmups in full uniform but shortly before first pitch was spotted grabbing his back and speaking to the trainer.
Wilyer Abreu subsequently took Anthony’s place in right field for the night.
Since making his MLB debut on June 9 Anthony has been among the most productive players on the team. The 21-year-old is currently batting .283 with two home runs, 19 RBI and an .828 OPS. His .400 on-base percentage leads the team since his promotion and ranks 12th in all of MLB, and he has frequently drawn high praise from his teammates and coaches for his maturity and plate discipline.
Following the game, Cora said Anthony won’t be in the lineup on Tuesday but that he should be ready to return after that.
“I’ll stay away from him tomorrow,” Cora said. “He’ll be ok to play tomorrow but we took today and I’ll give him tomorrow too.”
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