The Boston Red Sox have sorely missed two of their top young sluggers in Triston Casas and Wilyer Abreu. Lucky for Boston, they're both making their way back to action.
Abreu was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 3, after he sprained his ankle walking down the Fenway Park dugout steps.
On June 12, just one day before he was eligible for activation, Red Sox manager Alex Cora gave an exciting update on Abreu's progress. Abreu still feels "minor discomfort" while running, but the skipper expects he'll be back "sooner than later."
The day before Cora's update, Gabrielle Starr of The Boston Herald reported that the outfielder was "doing everything" in pregame workouts on June 11. Cora shared that Abreu will need a rehab start, but probably just one before he's ready to re-join the Sox.
Red Sox' Wilyer Abreu believes his return from rehabbing a sprained ankle is near https://t.co/edf6VHUy0B
— Boston Globe Sports (@BGlobeSports) June 13, 2024
Casas' recovery has also been going well, and he's gradually integrating more baseball activities into his routine. The first baseman provided an update on his situation as a guest on NESN's broadcast of Boston's June 5 game and shared that he hoped to start swinging a bat the following week.
His timeline was right. Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe has reported that Casas has begun taking measured swings off a tee.
Red Sox sluggers Wilyer Abreu and Triston Casas nearing returns from injured list
The slugger's injury, a rib cartilage issue, occurred as he swung on April 20, and he announced on June 5 that he still felt pain while swinging.
Boston has been careful with its star first baseman's recovery. He stated on multiple occasions that a balance between rest and activity is key to his healing, and given the necessity of his bat in the lineup, the team isn't likely to take that lightly.
Casas was originally hopeful to return to action the day he is eligible to come off the 60-day IL, June 21, but he and the Red Sox have pushed his target date back to July 1. Boston has struggled to find a suitable first baseman in his absence — Garrett Cooper was recently designated for assignment, and Dom Smith and Bobby Dalbec don't exactly move the needle.
If all goes according to plan, Casas could be in for another monster second half of the season, much like his 2023 campaign.