MiLB Notebook: Red Sox top prospect Roman Anthony dealing with right shoulder soreness, Vaughn Grissom on fire, Yophery Rodriguez impressive start

Red Sox top prospect Roman Anthony has been knocking on the door of the big leagues. Since the start of the season, Anthony's stats for the WooSox have been impressive, with a slash line of .283/.441/.500. Despite this, there appears to be a slight delay in Anthony's potential future promotion.

Anthony is dealing with right shoulder soreness, sources tell Boston Sports Journal. The WooSox have been using Anthony exclusively as their designated hitter since April 11 and will be the team’s DH for their day/night doubleheader on the road in Rochester on Thursday.

The nature of Anthony’s issue is considered minor, and the outfielder has been playing catch and is progressing to playing the outfield. Anthony’s shoulder soreness doesn’t affect his ability to hit, and the team is not concerned. 

Anthony has been off to a hot start with the WooSox, and despite the shoulder soreness, he has still been hitting the ball hard. On Sunday, Anthony connected for a single in the fifth inning that went 113.1 mph off his bat. He also had a 101.3 mph single, a 103.9 mph flyout, and a 101.5 mph flyout, according to Statcast.

He led all players in the Sox organization (majors and minors) in max exit velocity last year with a 116 mph homer.

Anthony's right shoulder soreness hasn’t impacted him offensively, considering he owns a five-game hitting streak. This season, Anthony is batting .283 with two home runs, two doubles, one triple, seven RBIs, one stolen base, and a .941 OPS through 13 games in Worcester.

ANTHONY TIMELINE 

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow recently addressed the potential timeline for promoting Anthony to the Red Sox' 26-man roster last week.

“There are certain players, and we’re hopeful and optimistic that we have a handful of those, who create their own timeline,” said Breslow to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “But then, the bulk of guys who get to the big leagues do so because an opportunity arises on the big league club. I think that this will likely be some balance of both these things.”

There was some speculation that the Sox could have promoted Anthony last week so he’d qualify for the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) program, which allows teams to earn a draft pick if a rookie spends 172 days on the active roster and wins certain awards.

“We have to do what’s best for each individual player, and if we do that, we’re going to do what’s best for the team,” Breslow said. “All of those incentives are well and good if they fall into place. If that’s the driver of the decision, you’ve got the wrong priorities.”

Boston hasn’t been in a hurry to promote Anthony with their current logjam in the outfield. The Sox have Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Kristian Campbell, and Rob Refsnyder all seeing time in the outfield this season.

There’s been nothing to suggest that Anthony was on the verge of a potential big league call-up. Boston's offensive struggles have prompted fans to add fuel to fire of the idea that the Sox could promote their top prospect to give the lineup a jolt. Before promoting Anthony, Boston wants to observe how he responds to specific situations and matchups in the minors.

“Developmentally, (getting him) a little more comfortable playing in the outfield,” Breslow said. “And then also getting him exposed to left-on-left, making sure he can handle that. He has done significant damage vs. right, and we trust that long-term it’s not going to be an issue, but in the short-term, giving him a chance to get exposed to left-handed pitching is the thing that’s front of mind right now.”

POSITION CHANGE?

Last week, 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Tony Massarotti posted on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that the Sox should consider a position change for Anthony due to Triston Casas’ struggles at the plate.

“If I’m the Red Sox, I start playing Roman Anthony at first base in Worcester,” he posted.

While on his regular appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show, Breslow was asked if the Sox should consider Mazz’s suggestion for Anthony.

“I mean, I think what we will do is everything in our power to ensure that Triston’s struggles don’t continue.” Breslow responded.

As reported in this past Sunday’s MLB Notebook, the Red Sox have not considered a position change for Anthony, and he will remain an outfielder.

ROMAN ANTHONY ADDRESSES EXTENSION TALKS

Another popular topic surrounding Anthony has been the idea that he could be next in line for a contract extension similar to Campbell. Boston locked up Campbell to an eight-year, $60 million contract extension that could pay him around $100 million over 10 years.

Earlier in March, The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reported that the club has “shown interest in discussing a long-term deal with Anthony this spring.”

Anthony addressed his contract talks with WEEI’s Rob Bradford this past weekend while the WooSox were at home at Polar Park.

“Not anywhere significant at all,” Anthony said. “For me, it’s not really anything I’m thinking about. I think those guys were probably pretty far along in the spring and going into the season, as far as my knowledge of it. But as far as mine goes, nothing.”

Anthony did confirm that the team broached his representatives on a possible extension.

“It was mentioned,” Anthony said. “But to say there is anything … I wouldn’t say that. When I say this really wasn’t anything. I think it was just simply a completely different situation for those guys. For me it’s not really anything at all.”

Boston has also handed out a six-year, $170 million extension to ace left-hander Garrett Crochet after the Opening Day deadline he set in the spring.

VAUGHN GRISSOM’S BIG NIGHT

Vaughn Grissom has been on a tear at the plate for the WooSox, batting .340/.400/.520 with a .920 OPS in 13 games. The 24-year-old had a big night in the series opener on the road against Rochester, going 4-for-6 with three RBI.

He’s been seeing time now at three separate infield positions. Grissom has played at second base exclusively, with two games at first base and one at third base.

Grissom has been focused on getting back to the big leagues and will do whatever it takes to create a clearer path to Boston.

“Control the controllable,” said Grissom to Boston Sports Journal prior to the WooSox home opener. “You don’t make any decisions; the only thing you can do is put yourself in a good spot.”

YOPHERY RODRIGUEZ ON FIRE SINCE TRADE

The Red Sox made a surprising trade, dealing Quinn Priester to the Brewers for outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez and a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick, plus a player to be named later or cash.

Since the trade, Rodriguez is slashing .286/.444/.667 with one home run, two doubles, one triple, four runs, six RBI, six walks, and a 1.111 OPS (21 at-bats).

Rodriguez was ranked as the Brewers No. 7 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and No. 14 by Baseball America. The 18-year-old has primarily been a center fielder in Milwaukee’s system, making 138 starts, with eight starting in right field and five in left field.

MLB Pipeline grades the left-handed hitter’s hit and run tools at 55 (above average) on the 20-80 grading scale. It grades his power, arm, and fielding at 50 (average). Baseball America grades his run tool at 55 and everything else at 50.

Priester has been impressive in two starts for the Brewers, making two starts and owning a 1-0 record with a 0.90 ERA and eight strikeouts in 10 innings.