The Red Sox received encouraging news about first baseman Triston Casas yesterday. As Casas told Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe, he has started taking dry swings as he recovers from torn cartilage in his midsection. Casas mentioned that if he continues to feel good after a few days of dry swings, he will begin making contact with a ball. McWilliams reported that Casas aims to return to the Red Sox lineup in time for a series against the Marlins starting on July 2.
If Casas is indeed just two weeks away from rejoining the majors, it would be a significant boost for a Red Sox lineup that has greatly missed his presence. Despite the team’s strong overall production since Casas last played on April 20, with a 107 wRC+ ranking eighth in the majors, their first base wRC+ has been just 98, below average overall and well below typical first baseman production. Casas, however, is significantly better than the average first baseman; his 160 wRC+ since last year’s All-Star break is the 11th-best in the majors and second only to Freddie Freeman among first basemen.
McWilliams pointed out that it’s uncertain if Casas will meet his target return date, even though he has started swinging a bat and running bases. Manager Alex Cora was more cautious, expressing hope that Casas will be back during the Miami series but emphasizing the importance of being careful with his rehab to avoid rushing him. In the meantime, the Red Sox are expected to rely on a combination of Dominic Smith and Bobby Dalbec at first base.