Triston Casas is one of the brightest stars on the Boston Red Sox roster and he's already becoming a fan-favorite.
Jerseys decorated with the number 36 have popped up across Boston as Casas' popularity increased. But on March 25, some Sox fans with keen eyes noticed a change on the Red Sox's roster page.
Casas changed his jersey number from 36 to 54 for Boston's exhibition game against the Texas Rangers. Some fans speculated that it may be to free up No. 36 for a potential new addition to the team. Others believed it symbolized a bold goal for the upcoming season.
In 2006, Red Sox legend David Ortiz hit 54 home runs. It's the most hit by any Red Sox player in a single season. Many fans thought Casas was sending a message, as he was gunning for Ortiz's record.
While Casas may dream of hitting the most home runs in a single Red Sox season, that's not what the number change was for. It was revealed on the Red Sox broadcast that Casas forgot his No. 36 jersey in Fort Myers. Boston couldn't make him another one, so he was forced to undergo a one-night number change and rep what would have been Lucas Giolito's number.
Triston Casas fakes Red Sox fans out with number change debacle
People get really worked up about jersey numbers on the official Red Sox website. Lots of anger. Passion. Hot. Takes.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 9, 2023
I don't think Triston Casas will wear 34 this year. Just a hunch. Please let this be the end of the pre-spring training jersey number discourse forever. pic.twitter.com/xQJDTTw7rT
The 24-year-old is in the midst of extension talks with the Red Sox front office and he and his agent have refused offers from the organization. Casas has stated on multiple occasions that he doesn't know his value as a player, but that logging a full, healthy season at the strength of his 2023 second half will absolutely raise it.
So would hitting 54 homers in one year. As much as Sox fans would love to believe it, that likely wasn't on Casas' mind.
23 …
— Triston Casas (@mvptc37) January 16, 2024
Youngest opening day first base man for the Red Sox since 1967
Joined Ted Williams as the only Red Sox to record at least 25 HR and 75 walks in first 140 career games
3rd rookie to lead team in ops in franchise history (Lynn ‘75, Fisk ‘72)
24 …
But Casas is no stranger to bold goals, so it's no wonder some fans fell for the home run theories. He told Boston.com that he hopes to play all 162 games this season and finish out the year with a .300/.400/.500 slash line. The first baseman knows he can do more for the Sox than he did last season — he only hit his stride after a couple of months of play. If Casas can string together a full slate like his second half of 2023 -- he posted the fourth-best second-half OPS in the league over that span -- 54 home runs in one season may be a possibility.
Casas already started off slow in spring training, which may not bode well for his 2024 season if he's already showing signs of streakiness. Or, Casas' slow start may mean he got his cold streak out of the way early before games even counted.
Regardless of the lack of symbolism behind his temporary number change, Casas has big dreams for his tenure with the Red Sox. Maybe Boston fans' theories gave him some inspiration for even higher offensive goals than the ones he's set for himself.