Red Sox: Triston Casas cracks MLB Pipeline’s top-10 first base prospects

Red Sox prospect Triston Casas ranked top-10 at his position

The anticipation around Boston Red Sox first base prospect Triston Casas seems to elevate by the day. MLB Pipeline released its pre-season top-10 first base prospect list — anointing him as the No. 2 prospect at the position.

His standing on the list hasn’t budged from projecting as No. 2 to begin the 2021 season. Casas’s amateur pitching and third base experience tabs his arm — capable of touching the low-90s —  as his most valuable tool in contrast to the attributes of the other nine standouts on the list.

The Red Sox 2018 first-round draft choice maintained this rank by sporting a .271 AVG and tallying 14 home runs and 59 RBI between the Worcester Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs in 2021. Casas also added to his resume by leading the Olympic field with 3 homers and 8 RBI in USA’s silver medal finish last summer.

So, the Red Sox know that they have a deployable asset capable of performing at the plate and in the field this season. The question just is: when?

Casas was one of 12 players plucked from minor league spring training to join the Red Sox for the first day together in Florida on Sunday. Red Sox Manager Alex Cora has been familiarizing himself with the young power hitter in the early days of the 2022 campaign’s preparation. Cora drew quite the big-shoed comparison to another player in the clubhouse, according to MassLive’s Christopher Smith.

"“Very structured in his routine. Very J.D. [Martinez]-like if you want to call it [that]. But because [Casas] is a rookie, he probably has to show up at five in the morning and get it. Because when J.D. gets here, it’s his cage,” Cora said."

The timing of Casas’ debut in the big leagues is entirely contingent on how Bobby Dalbec can harness his late-2021 surge. Dalbec has earned the right to first base to start the season and it would be wise for the Red Sox to hone its No. 2-ranked first base prospect in the minors before complicating the situation.

Despite the promise he has displayed, Casas would benefit from a little more time in Triple-A as he only spent nine games in Worcester last season. Let him continue to make a case that the Red Sox can’t deny before jumping the gun.

Casas ranks below Detroit Tigers prospect Spencer Torkleson, who is the only other up-and-coming first baseman that compares to his offense. Torkleson is praised for his hitting and power abilities among the other prospects, as he tore through three levels last season while smashing 30 home runs in 121 games. The Tigers should be introducing him to the American League as well in 2022.

Additionally, Baseball America has etched Casas as No. 19 on its Top 100 prospects list.