Triston Casas Injury: New Updates From Red Sox’s Alex Cora, Craig Breslow

BOSTON -- It's been over three months since the last time Triston Casas suited up for the Red Sox, but with over two months left in the season, there's still time for the 24-year-old to make a return.

Casas suffered a rib cage injury on April 20, landing the left-handed-hitting slugger on the 60-day injured list and taking a toll on Boston's lineup. Experimenting with Dominic Smith, Romy Gonzalez and Bobby Dalbec at first base to fill the void, the Red Sox have patiently awaited the availability of a healthy and ready to go Casas.

"It seems like Casas is getting better," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before Friday night's matchup against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. "He hit the last two days, inside. That's a good sign. Obviously, there's a few steps still. ... It seems like things are trending in the right direction. I think Craig (Breslow), yesterday, mentioned something of a possible rehab assignment sooner rather than later, which is awesome. Just talked to Triston and he feels good, much better than a few weeks ago."

Casas underwent a struggling start to begin last season, the first full big league season of the homegrown products career. He batted just .133 and struck out 27 times through the first 25 games, but quickly flipped the switch and broke out as not only a legitimate MLB Rookie of the Year candidate for the American League -- finishing third in voting -- but the clear-cut Red Sox starting first baseman of the future. Boston relied on having Casas, again, tear up the batter's box in 2024 before colliding with unforeseen circumstances, however, neither Casas nor the Red Sox view the 22 games he has played this season as the end for the third-year veteran in 2024.

"He's feeling good, taking swings at full intensity," Breslow told reporters Friday, per Mac Cerullo of The Boston Herald. "So our hope, our expectation, is he'll be engaged here soon."

Boston already began its addition quest heading into the MLB trade deadline, first by acquiring left-handed pitcher James Paxton from the Dodgers on Friday. The Red Sox entered their three-game weekend series against the Yankees trailing second-place New York by just 4 1/2 games in the AL East, and the division-leading Orioles by 6 1/2 games. Therefore, the possibility of Casas coming back just in time for Boston's most meaningful baseball in the last three years isn't a stretch.