When Triston Casas was activated from the 60-day injured list on Aug. 16, Boston Red Sox fans hoped his bat would catapult his team back on a winning track.
But, like the Red Sox as a team recently, Casas' offensive contributions have been minimal since his return to action.
The first baseman is batting .196/.288/.304 in his last 15 games. He's hit one homer and walked five times, but 17 strikeouts is out of character for Casas, who prides himself on his eye.
Boston's skipper Alex Cora didn't play Casas against Baltimore Orioles lefty Cade Povich. The 24-year-old has well-documented struggles against left-handed pitching since last season — he slashed .215/.361/.456 against southpaws last year compared to .274/.368/.497 against right-handers. The discrepancy has continued this season, although not as severely, and Casas is slashing .222/.300/.400 against lefties in 46 games.
Cora slotted Casas back into the lineup on Sept. 10, and reporters asked the manager if he thought Casas would benefit from his day of rest. Cora gave a hilarious answer.
"All depends how many swings he took mentally in the dugout and now he might be tired," Cora said.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora pokes fun at Triston Casas during offensive slump
With Triston Casas mired in a slump at the plate, Red Sox manager Alex Cora took the opportunity to give the slugger some advice. https://t.co/CRcNgLjk6s
— NESN (@NESN) September 10, 2024
During his stretch on the 60-day IL, Casas told reporters he had begun swinging a bat before his recovery progressed enough to allow for it. He'd been visualizing at-bats and taking imaginary swings to keep his eye in midseason form. Cora used his strange approach to poke fun at his slump.
Maybe Cora's subtle jab worked. Casas smoked an RBI double to straightaway center field to get Boston's scoring started in the fourth inning on Sept. 10. The first baseman still fanned three times that night, but the knock could be a signal of things to come when he's at the plate. Casas told reporters he feels the tides changing.
"As hitters, we're always transitioning and almost molting like butterflies. So, I'm in my next phase right now. Hopefully better at-bats coming soon," he said after the Sox's 5-3 loss on Tuesday night.
Hopefully, Casas' metamorphosis is nearing its end. Boston is four games out of the third American League Wild Card spot with the streaking Tigers just ahead. The Red Sox's offense needs all the help it can get as they reach the middle of September, and Casas eventually breaking out of his funk at the plate would be key to their success.