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Red Sox 1B Triston Casas
The Boston Red Sox are watching their players dominate the World Baseball Classic from Fort Myers. Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Masataka Yoshida are all in red hot form for their respective countries.
Back at spring training, Willson Contreras has been taking ground balls at first base. The former Cardinals catcher was acquired specifically to anchor that position for Boston.
Meanwhile, Triston Casas has been working through his rehab away from game action. On Monday, he confirmed where his recovery stands.
Casas Addresses His Injury Timeline
Casas told reporters he will not appear in any Grapefruit League games for the Red Sox this spring.
The announcement came nearly ten months after tearing his left patellar tendon in May 2025. The 26-year-old first baseman still needs to clear baserunning and sliding progressions before he can return to full game activity. Until those hurdles are behind him, exhibition games aren’t happening.
Manager Alex Cora confirmed there’s been no setback. This is simply where the recovery timeline stands. Casas had mentioned earlier this spring that he hoped to get into some games before Opening Day. That hope didn’t align with reality.
A return in May would mark roughly one year from the injury. Casas is treating that timeframe as a target, not a deadline.
“This was a major injury and I’m a great player,” Casas told MLB.com’s Ian Browne in February. “I don’t find any reason to rush this process. Whenever I feel ready to come back is when I’m going to contribute best.”
Triston Casas will not play in Grapefruit League games this spring, he said today (via @timbhealey).
Casas had hoped to get into games before the Sox broke camp, but he won’t end up being ready.
What Casas Showed Before Everything Broke Down
The frustration around Casas stems from what he’s proven he can do.
His 2023 season for the Red Sox put him on the map. He hit .263/.367/.490 with 24 home runs across 132 games and finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting. The power was legitimate. The plate discipline was advanced.
Then his body started breaking down. An injury ended 2023 early. Torn rib cartilage limited him to 63 games in 2024. Last year was the worst. Casas struggled through 32 games, hitting just .182/.277/.303 before the patellar tendon tear ended his season.
He had started turning things around in his final nine games. He hit .222/.364/.444 with two home runs and five walks. The plate discipline returned. The power started showing up again. The injury wiped away whatever momentum he was building.
Casas told reporters earlier this spring that he still considers himself a “fit on any team” when healthy. The challenge has been proving that health can last.
GettyTriston Casas of the Boston Red Sox
Walking Into a Changed Red Sox Roster
The Red Sox moved on while Casas rehabbed.
Contreras arrived from St. Louis and took over first base. Anthony has emerged as one of the organization’s brightest young stars. Yoshida will likely be designated hitter for Boston. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow wouldn’t commit to Casas as the starting first baseman after last season.
Casas even took ground balls at third base earlier in camp to help Isiah Kiner-Falefa get work at first. The Red Sox are preparing for multiple scenarios because they have to.
When Casas returns, he’ll need to force his way back into the lineup through performance. The baserunning and sliding progressions are the final checkpoints.
Once those are cleared, the Red Sox will have a clearer picture of when Casas might be ready.
Final Word for the Red Sox
Triston Casas won’t play any spring training games.
The Red Sox roster looks a lot different than it did when Casas went down. Contreras is entrenched at first base. Their stars are thriving at the WBC. Boston’s offensive firepower is on full display while Casas works through progressions in Fort Myers.
For now, the timeline is clear. Casas’ work will continue.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
