Will Triston Casas make his Red Sox debut when MLB rosters expand in September?
On September 1, all Major League Baseball teams’ rosters will expand from 26 to 28 players (29 on doubleheader days).
For many top prospects, it means a chance to finally make their big-league debuts. A brief moment to shine and make a first impression that could carry over to the following spring’s roster.
Over the last few years, the Boston Red Sox have called up several top prospects in the final month of the season, including Tanner Houck in 2020, and Connor Seabold in 2021.
This year, it may finally be Triston Casas’ turn.
On Wednesday, the Sox’ 2018 first-round pick drove in both of Triple-A WooSox’ runs. First, he walked in the game-tying run, and then in the ninth, he hit a walk-off single off the right-field Worcester Wall to send home Connor Wong for the win.
TRISTON CASAS WINS IT! pic.twitter.com/jPMKsvsfQm
— Worcester Red Sox (@WooSox) August 17, 2022
Casas came into Wednesday hitting .249/.353/.459 with 17 doubles and nine home runs in 57 Triple-A games this year. He ranks 26th on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospect list, along with Marcelo Mayer (8th) and Brayan Bello (37th), who made his own debut earlier this season.
An ankle injury derailed the organization’s plans for Casas to debut earlier this season. Had that happened, the roster would look quite different now. Sources indicated that if Casas had been ready early on, the Sox would have traded Bobby Dalbec. They also likely wouldn’t have been interested in Eric Hosmer at the deadline, as Casas is considered their first baseman of the future.
Instead, the Sox will likely wait until after August 22, if they’re going to call him up this year at all. As Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects noted, if they call him up after the 22nd, he’ll retain his rookie eligibility next season. If he finishes in the top three in Rookie of the Year voting, the Sox will earn an additional draft pick, which must appeal to Chaim Bloom.
Either way, next month or next year, Casas is coming.
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