When Triston Casas debuted for the Boston Red Sox in 2023, they felt sure they'd found their first baseman of the future. His 24 home runs over 132 games and Rookie of the Year finalist status suggested he'd be a staple of the roster for years to come.
That hasn't gone to plan, as Red Sox fans well know. Casas has been chronically injured since his rookie season after a rib cartilage tear decimated his 2024 campaign and a ruptured patellar tendon ended his 2025 season in early May. Now that Willson Contreras has entered the picture for 2026-27, his future looks more uncertain than ever.
This coming season could be Casas' last chance to make an impact for Boston. The team has little first base depth in the farm system, and if Casas can't become more of a roster staple this year, the Sox could be forced to look elsewhere after Contreras' departure.
Despite the crowding at the corner, there's plenty of room for Casas to prove himself. After the Rafael Devers trade in June, the Red Sox had little pop in their lineup. Adding Contreras should bring a bit more, and Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu and Trevor Story should also contribute well to the team's home run total. But Casas is the only one among them with easy 30-homer potential, if his rookie hype is still to be believed.
This season could be Triston Casas' last chance to stick with the Red Sox
With Devers gone, Casas could step into the true slugger role in Boston. Contreras will reportedly split his time between first base and designated hitter, which would put Casas at first in his absence (subscription required). He could be the DH on other days if he's successful in his early appearances (and depending on Boston's plan for Masataka Yoshida). Since Casas isn't a great defender — he logged -10 outs above average in 2023 and -3 OAA in 2025 — which could motivate him to focus all his energy on being a slugging DH.
Casas will have some work to do to get there. He gained a lot of attention for his eye in the first years of his career, but his plate discipline faltered in 2025. In 29 games last season (admittedly a small sample size), he struck out 27 times and walked 11 with a .277 on base percentage. Sox fans were confused at the time, as he wasn't making contact regularly or getting on base as often as advertised.
If Casas falls back into that trap, 2026 could be his last year in Boston. The Red Sox have placed new emphasis on defense after leading the league with 116 in 2025, and if Casas can't defend or live up to his keen-eyed expectations, this could be it.
But there's a chance he makes a place for himself. And given their lack of power, the Red Sox are banking.