Roman Anthony and Trevor Story gave Red Sox fans a little pause on Thursday, but the extra day in Triple-A Worcester wasn’t a setback.
After both players finished Wednesday’s game at Polar Park, it looked like their time with the WooSox was probably over. Boston had Thursday off before opening a four-game series against the New York Yankees on Friday, so a return to the majors in the Bronx felt like the obvious next step.
Instead, Anthony and Story stayed put for another day. Tommy Cassell of the Worcester T&G Sports reported that the two wanted more at-bats rather than spend the day traveling to New York, though a Friday activation was still possible.
"Roman Anthony just said he (and Trevor Story) decided they wanted to get more at-bats here in Triple-A Worcester today as opposed to wasting a day traveling to New York," Cassell wrote. "Joining the Red Sox in the Bronx tomorrow is still on the table - and is a decision the club will make after today’s rehab stint with the WooSox."
Worcester manager Iggy Suarez said he didn’t see it coming, though he understood the reasoning.
"I was a little surprised but that's why we're here to accommodate those guys. But I was a little bit surprised," Suarez said.
The move makes sense on the numbers, too. Story went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Wednesday, while Anthony was 0-for-4 with one strikeout. With Boston idle Thursday, there was no downside to letting both hitters take another turn at game speed before making the jump back to the majors.
And because Worcester is only a short flight from New York, the logistics aren’t exactly complicated. Whether the Red Sox bring them up Friday or wait until later in the weekend, the important part is that both players are still on track to help Boston once the club makes its decision.
For anxious Red Sox fans, the message is simple: no alarm bells needed. Anthony and Story are still in Worcester, but it’s just part of the final tune-up before their return.
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