After a freak rib cartilage injury forced him to miss four months of the 2024 season, Triston Casas was primed for a rebound.
The Boston Red Sox hoped their slugging first baseman would bring power and consistency to their lineup with his strength and keen eye at the plate. Not only did his bounce-back season not start as planned, but it screeched to a halt on May 3.
As Casas attempted to dig out a grounder at first base, he planted his left foot in front of the bag and his knee buckled. He grabbed his leg and remained on the ground, scrunching his face in pain. As he was stretchered off the field at Fenway Park, his blank expression suggests he knew his injury was season-ending.
Casas underwent surgery to repair his ruptured patellar tendon on May 4. The recovery process from said procedure can take six months to a year. Season-ending injuries are never ideal, but Casas, in particular, could not afford for this to happen.
The Red Sox billed Casas as their first baseman of the future after he earned Rookie of the Year consideration in 2023, his age-23 season. He slashed .263/.367/.490 with a .857 OPS, 21 doubles, two triples and 24 homers over 132 games. He didn't perform as well in 2024, although his rib injury limited him to 63 games. He batted .241/.337/.462 with 13 homers, a 33 home-run pace over a full season of work.
Triston Casas' season-ending injury could mean he played his last game for the Red Sox organization
In 2025, Casas only logged 18 hits with 27 strikeouts and 11 walks in 29 games. He fanned at a much higher clip than usual and walked less than expected.
Casas was mentioned in countless trade rumors over the 2024-25 offseason, and it has been reported that the Mariners rejected a trade for the 25-year-old. If the Red Sox were trying to offload him, a second straight season-altering injury could mean the end of his career in Boston.
The Red Sox this winter posted their first big offseason in over half a decade, with the trade acquisition of Garrett Crochet and the signing of Alex Bregman. The American League is wide open, and so is the window for a deep playoff run.
Boston will, hopefully, move on and find a capable first baseman from outside the system to help elevate the offense and the team's record above .500. The Red Sox could sign someone temporarily, just to get to the playoffs this season and give Casas another chance next year, but two straight lost seasons could be the nail in his Red Sox coffin.
Casas' trade value is now nearly depleted, and it'll be hard for the Red Sox to dish him elsewhere for a quality return. But when he returns to the field, he'll be 26 years old with just 251 games of experience to show for his four seasons in MLB.
You have to feel for players in situations like the one Casas has found himself in. Not only does he have an arduous recovery ahead of him, but his job with the Red Sox is far from secure. Hopefully, he bounces back and Boston can find a place for him on the 2026 squad, but that is far from a guarantee.