Triston Casas had hoped to return to the Boston Red Sox lineup on July 2. The slugger has been rehabbing a rib cartilage tear since April 20, and sufficient healing is key to the next step of his progression toward game action.
Casas has been open about his recovery process — his 60-day injured list stint officially ended on June 21, but there have been setbacks in his swinging progression. The first baseman has taken slight swings off a tee recently, but little has been reported on his progress since.
Casas underwent an MRI to check the status of his injury on June 24. Red Sox manager Alex Cora shared the following night there's a "good chance" Casas can begin swinging this week. Cora's lack of clarity raises some questions, but he said the team would share more information on June 26.
The 24-year-old's ideal return date is just over a week away. He hasn't swung a bat in over two months and he'll need some rehab outings before he can be reactivated to the major league roster, so a July 2 return may be out of the question.
Red Sox Triston Casas may start swinging this week
Cora: “A good chance (Casas) starts swinging this week”
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) June 26, 2024
The slugger is primed for a similar season to 2023. Casas was quiet at the plate to start his rookie campaign, but he exploded in the second half of the year. He carried the fourth-highest OPS in the majors after the All-Star break, and he finished the season slashing .263/.367/.490 with 24 homers.
The news that Casas is nearly cleared couldn't come at a better time for Boston. The Red Sox have won 11 out of their last 15 games, and Casas' offense would give his squad the boost it needs to maintain its recent success. If they've been doing this with Dom Smith at first base, just imagine how much more impactful the lineup will be with Casas.