Triston Casas suffered a “significant knee injury” during tonight’s win over Minnesota, manager Alex Cora told reporters (including Chris Cotillo of MassLive). According to Ian Browne of MLB.com, Casas remains at a local hospital after being taken off the field on a stretcher.
The injury occurred in the second inning. Casas hit a check-swing chopper up the first base line. When Joe Ryan bobbled the ball, Casas lunged to the first base bag in an attempt to beat the throw. He hit the base awkwardly and stumbled over the foot of Minnesota first baseman Ty France. Casas immediately favored his left knee and was down for several minutes before being stretchered off. Romy Gonzalez finished the game at first base.
It’s devastating news for Casas, who is facing a second lengthy absence in as many seasons. He was shelved between late April and the middle of August last year by a lingering rib injury. He hit .241/.337/.462 with 13 homers in 63 games when healthy. Casas has struggled early this season, posting a .182/.277/.303 slash with a trio of homers across 112 trips to the dish. The Red Sox will presumably provide more specifics on the injury and treatment plan in the coming days.
Gonzalez has started seven games at first base this season. He’s the only player other than Casas to log any action there. Gonzalez is a multi-positional infielder who has spent the bulk of his career at second base. He’s hitting reasonably well this season but entered play tonight with a career .245/.277/.388 batting line over 499 plate appearances. It’s unlikely that the Sox would want to rely on him as an everyday first baseman for an extended stretch.
The Sox don’t have an obvious solution in the minors. Nathan Hickey is the primary first baseman at Triple-A Worcester. He’s hitting .262/.300/.429 through his first 22 games of the season. Infielder Abraham Toro is having a much better year for the WooSox, hitting .323/.417/.500 across 115 plate appearances. He has made five starts at first base this year and has 90 career major league innings at the position. He’s likelier to receive a call-up than is Hickey, but he’s more of a second baseman/third baseman with a somewhat similar profile to Gonzalez.
One speculative possibility would be to turn to Rafael Devers, who hasn’t played a single defensive inning all season. Devers has never played a professional inning at first base. He’s obviously familiar with the infield, but Cora made clear at the beginning of the season that the Sox viewed him as a full-time designated hitter for the time being. It seems they want Devers focused exclusively on maintaining an offensive rhythm as the DH rather than getting occasional defensive work after being pushed off third base by the Alex Bregman signing.
That may need to change at some point. Keeping Devers as a full-time DH would essentially block any path to playing time for Masataka Yoshida whenever he’s able to return from a shoulder injury. Yoshida could theoretically play some left field, but that’d require pushing Jarren Duran to center and would only be an option until top outfield prospect Roman Anthony comes up from Triple-A. There’d be more flexibility if the Red Sox were comfortable using Devers at first base.
Rizzo is waiting by the phone.
No thanks.
Brandon Belt also waits.
No thanks.
Steve Garvey remains unsigned.
A Republican first baseman in Boston,? They’d dig up the Boomer first.
Bregman to 1B, Devers to 3B, or the other way, depending upon if Devers can handle 1B.
Devers has had 951 games and 8268.2 innings to prove conclusively that he can’t handle 3rd.
1st makes more sense, though I wouldn’t expect any miracles there either.
I believe Devers has lead the league with errors at 3B since 2018. I guess this may give him some time to continue his streak if he does go back to third?
Me neither. Nothing will make it clearer how underrated 1B defense can be than having a horrible fielder there. I just watched Michael Toglia for 3 days. He was quite bad.
That’s funny, because Toglia came up with a rep as one of the best defensive 1B in the minor leagues. Man, what else can go wrong for the Rockies.
Not to be too off topic but he didn’t seem to be giving much effort. For all I know he’s a tad injured but perhaps it’s also playing for a garbage club.
Canuck – I agree, but miracles are not needed at first base. It’s the least important position and almost anyone can play it. Vladdy was worse at 3B than Devers and he obviously made the transition.
Great idea… Move a Gold Glove 3B to a new position and replace him with perhaps the worst 3B in MLB.
I approve of this plan. Of course, I’m a Yankee fan.
Do you think mentioning returning Devers to third was trolling?
Dewey – I never assume because we don’t know anything about the people doing the posting. Could be 12 years old, could be 95, could have challenges they are dealing with, etc.
Dewey, I don’t believe removing Bregman from 3B to learn 1B to return Devers to 3B is the answer.
I’m not sure what is the cleanest answer, but if someone is going to have to learn 1B on the fly, how about Story, a good athlete with diminishing range, with Rafaela playing SS, opening the door for Anthony in the OF? Or, Story at 1B, and turning Rafaela into a super utility player for now, and going really bold and calling up Anthony and Mayer, who takes over at SS.
I’d leave Bregman at 3B.
Fever, I responded to Dewey thinking he was asking me, but then I realized it was likely the other poster. It’s sometimes hard to tell with threading on a mobile phone and before my morning coffee.
For the record, I’m neither 12 nor 95, although disturbingly I’m closer to 95 than 12!
Lord – Yeah I’m pretty sure he was asking you about the other guy’s comment. We all get why you endorse the other guy’s comment. Lol!
And I’m closer to 95 too ;o)
I think a majority of the posters on here are 50+
Terrible idea. You don’t move a gold glove 3b off the position and put the guy with the most errors over the last 5 years at 3rd. And Devers would assuredly be a hack at 1b, a position he’s never played.
JScott – I totally agree with your first part, but why would you assume Devers can’t handle first base? Plenty of bad or declining third basemen have made the switch to to first base. Raffy’s fielding issues were mostly on throws, that wouldn’t be an issue at first base.
I’ll never understand why some people make the assumption something can’t be done, without even trying it first.
I bet he could pull 15-20 out towards Pesky pole with 400 at bats.
I’m actually waiting to hear the arenado rumors start agajn
The Sox also have Yasmani Grandal in Worcester right now. He does have 97 career games at 1B in the majors.
Heck no. Boston may need him at catcher soon if Wong doesn’t start hitting and Narvaez’s bat regresses.
Narvaez’s bat is in permanent regression. His value is behind the plate.
Funny thing about grandal at 1B, there’s nothing preventing you from moving him back off it later.
Not that it’s a good idea mind you.
Wong also has a *very* few starts at 1B… I think he’s been there a dozen, dozen and a half games in the past year or so.
Not that that is a good idea either.
GaSox – Yep there’s no reason why Grandal can’t platoon between catcher and first base. He’s really bad at throwing runners out though.
Playing means nothing, Cora has played just about everyone just about everywhere. Doesn’t mean they are good. I played basketball, I don’t think the Celts would want me.
Grandal is toast. Terrible catcher.
Might be a blessing in disguise with the way he’s been playing.
Losing Casas is no blessing… Come on, my friend.
Casas has been a slow starter for his entire career so far. His career numbers in April/May are bad, but he heats up with the weather and has been a borderline elite level bat from June onwards.
You’re right. As a Yankee fan I’ve been worried he would turn into an elite consistent contributor. Sadly for him he can’t seem to avoid the injury bug.
The stretcher use makes me inclined to think he may be done for the year, or, at least till the end of summer. The fact he didn’t even try walking off with assistance tells me a lot about the seriousness
It’s always annoying to me watching guys trying to walk off the field when they need to swallow their pride and use the stretcher. Watching Acuna trying to walk off the field twice with torn ACLs…(he’s 1for2). Same attitude with catchers. Why is it so unmanly to take a moment after you get a ball fouled off your face yet then the umpire has the same thing happen and you insist on giving him the same break you don’t want. All some social ritual to look tough?
I was at the game oin SF when Pedroia broke his foot on a foul ball, stayed in to take a BB, then walked down to first before being taken out. Of course we admire their grit, but you have to wonder if it worsened the injury.
I mainly get annoyed when a guy is clearly injured but the manager keeps letting them try to coax them to stay in the game (or trying to convince them they can walk off the field). Dollander bleeding all over the ball the other day at 88 pitches throwing warm ups to try to prove hes fine all for one more out on a 4 win team (your top prospect). I don’t blame the player really but just take them out (or call the stretcher out is my point). No discussion. Managers need to be more assertive there.
You’re looking to breakdown those important social barriers huh?
Slow start means he can’t hit pitchers when they are at their best. Pitching quality deteriorates as the season goes on. That’s why guys get called up 2nd half, ball out, then can’t reproduce their numbers next year when season starts
Casas is toast. Diving at that bag could be the worst mistake of his career
Whiff…He didnt dive he tripped on the 1bs foot..watch the replay its pretty obvious
@Big wihiffa – Tell me you didn’t watch the play without telling me you didn’t watch the play.
Casas didn’t “dive at the bag.” He did shift his run inside the base path and try to cut off the throwing lane though. It was insanely stupid, and just another example of why runners are told not to do it. Casas should have been out due to runner interference anyway.
Anyway, Casas landed with his “right” foot on the middle of first base, then had to awkwardly lift and swing his leg over Ty France’s leg because he was running so far inside. Casas didn’t get his leg up high enough and his foot ran into France’s lower leg hard. As Casas went down, he landed on his left knee. My guess, strained PCL.
GASoxFan
The stretcher use makes me inclined to think he may be done
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It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally you can get an explosion of pain tat makes you wonder if you will ever walk again, and then subsides after the shock is over.
The way he’s been playing was .290/.375 over his L7… That’s what makes this even more heartbreaking, it was finally clicking for him! his plate discipline was second only to Campbell tbh.
Not everyone pays attention to the stats. He’s been mostly okay in April.
Von?
Seems obvious to mix and match Romy Gonzalez and Devers, unless Devers surprises defensively. Gotta at least give him some 1B reps, right?
Cora has been pretty adamant he wouldn’t slot Devers into 1B… also, he’s started to heat up and get into the groove as DH. Not sure they want to screw that up by having him try 1B on the fly mid-season
Grissom has been playing some 1B and is hitting very well. Bats right, but might be the immediate move while they figure out if Devers or even Mayer can handle 1B longer term.
Mayer isn’t going to 1B. Grissom should get the call.
Not gonna happen. Grissom’s D at 1B is pretty bad.
His D at short is bad. I haven’t seen any reports of Grissom being bad at 1b.
Grissom D has been pretty bad anywhere he tried whe. I watched him with the braves and gwinnett. That said, they were small samples.
Gotta be Grissom until they sort things out.
Sounds like they should deal for Andrew Vaughn. Please.
Welcome to the show Roman Anthony!!! Get well soon Triston.
pick up yuli gurriel off waivers from padres hes a solid 1st base can still hit too
Not the worst idea. I think they have more reasons to look internally for a temporary 1B tho.
No, he can’t really hit much at this stage.
Can still hit? Nahhhh.
The Red Sox have a numbers crunch and way too many players available.
They definitely won’t pick up someone from the outside unless it’s a super stud who falls in their lap. Too many in-house options.
Red Sox’s Nick Johnson
Weird play. France gave him 95% of the bag and he went for the only bit that was covered. Was he just trying to disrupt the throw? Hope for a speedy recovery nonetheless.
Hard to say in real time, but, trying to beat the throw his stride was such that his right foot needed to hit the bag. Not wanting to risk an ankle issue with the rh side rolling or something he hit the back square with the right foot, leaving the left to trail thorough and get tripped up
Not hard to say. Casas ran inside the line to try and block the throwing lane. Right foot landed fine, but he was so far inside he had to try and lift the left leg/foot to avoid a collision with France, who gave Casas every bit of space he could. It was bush league by Casas, who couldn’t clear France’s leg, and then tripped forward as Casas’s left foot contacted France’s shin and as Casas fell forward, he landed on his left knee.
Probably a PCL issue. Hopefully, just a minor sprain and not torn badly. If I were to wager, he’ll be back in 2-3 weeks.
I think you’re 0-2. It wasn’t “bush league” and he won’t be back that fast.
What about giving Blaze Jordan a cup of coffee? He’s most likely a career minor leaguer but sometimes a couple games with the big league club can re-light the fire and motivate a guy knowing he’s not been forgotten. He’s got big league power. Not much else. And if he goes 3-20 we wouldn’t have lost all that much had Casas still been there. Need a temp fix, why not give a lesser hyped prospect a reason to impress?
The same Blaze Jordan that has a sub .700 ops in AA? That guy has big league power? Hes just a fatty.
Yep same guy. Ive got nothing but love for guys headed towards being career minor leaguers and like to see them at least get a shot. He’s got power. But thats about it.
Devers is a baseball player.He should be able to handle any position.Great players should be flexible.
I have no doubt Devers could be equally poor at any position.
I think they’ll fill it internally. Toro has earned a shot. He’s carried a good spring through the season. A Romy/Wong platoon is also fine.
It’s not like the offense as a whole is losing any production so whoever they choose is a likely improvement. Bummed for Casas, but its not really a huge hit to the team.
I was thinking Toro also. I bet he gets the call up.
My first choice would be to move Story to 1B and put Mayer at SS. Option 2 is Grissom.
Mayer is injured
Mayer started at SS tonight.
Suit – wasn’t aware he got a start tonight. Just knew the back as acting up again and he had been scratched.
Wonder if he’s playing through something or if the light treatment sorted it out
He was scratched from one game. That’s far from being injured.
Call up Pittsburgh and ask about henry Davis. They might want to start thinking about recouping some of their investment.
Recouping what for a totally failed prospect?
I have no idea what the return would be. It wouldn’t be a premium prospect, but it’ll be a lot more than lottery tickets. He was still in the top-5, even if Pitt reached so they could spread out the money. And his minor league stats indicate that he should be a hitter.
Yasmani Grandal is going to be the answer to who is going to replace Casas for now Devers is a DH thats what Cora has said
don’t know the extent of the injury and hope it doesn’t seriously impact his career but freak plays like this are why i would advise young players to sign extensions when they are offered
Has Anthony ever played 1st base?
They’ve already explicitly stated that Anthony is not moving to 1B.
Anthony has never played any infield position in his entire professional & high school career. Strictly OF and DH.
It was an odd injury… he lunged with his right leg but grabbed his left knee when on the ground. I wonder if the lunge put too much pressure on the left knee and he popped the quad or patella tendon. Not sure if it’s ACL. Tough for a promising young athlete. Hopefully he isn’t out for long.
If you watch the slow motion his left foot hits the bag then bends awkwardly when he trips over the defenders leg.
Yeah. There was a quick fire twist. Not the acl is probably the best result.
I watched the replay and it seems like his left knee gave out before he hit the bag. He tripped over the first baseman because he could not bend his knee to get his foot out of the way.
Refsnyder has played first before and Grissom could probably handle it. Along with romy and Wong, that should suffice. I would actually call up grandal and start Wong at first most nights. Narvaez was going to play more anyway.
Seems like every day now there are 3 injuries around baseball from either a team’s starting nine or starting rotation. Game of attrition. My Mariners are now missing four of their opening day starters and their #1 and #2 starting pitcher.
One of the astonishing story lines this off season has involved first base and Devers. You have arguably one of the worst third baseman in recent years losing his job to a gold glover. That made total sense. Even though Yoshida has no value in the outfield and is slated to be a DH, the Red Sox hinted about making their outfield worse by slotting Yoshida into left field, and making a player in his mid 20’s a DH. Devers took reps at third, and no reps at first during the off season.
The assumption by the team was that Casas would finally hit and be the everyday first baseman. A fine hope, but not a guarantee. I am not second guessing whether the Red Sox should have taken a flamethrower to Devers mitt for third baseman, but I was shocked to see them not give him the reps at first when you had three top prospects pre-season in the wings and the odd men out clearly Yoshida, Casas, and Abreu to create space for them.
The idea, you would have thought, would be to get more production out of that positional batting slot, and create a long term alternative if the need to either move Casas occurred, or any unforeseen injury happened. There are several dozen available DH’s, and a very thin stable of first baseman. The lack of foresight didn’t make sense.
william-2
The assumption by the team was that Casas would finally hit
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I’m not sure what you mean by “finally”.
Casas has a career 118 OPS+. His hitting was never in doubt.
The track record isn’t as long as you make it out to be.
How about Andrew Vaughn from the White Sox?
Let Devers and yoshi battle it out for first base job.
They’ve been claiming that Yoshida has been injured all year. If he suddenly makes a miraculous recovery then they will be investigated for IL manipulation.
How about Andrew Vaughn for a couple torpedo bats!?
Where’s Dominic Smith?
Casas sucks. This will wind up being a good thing for the BoSox.
Let’s get Devers a 1st baseman mitt,and start practicing. I would think that even a mediocre 3rd baseman could play an adequate 1st base . Be nice if Devers went to Cora with this suggestion himself.
Want to see Devers go to Cora and offer his services at 1st base. What would happen if (God forbid ) Bregman went down long term? Probably call up Mayer,but you could put your starting 3rd baseman of the previous 8 or so years back there. Is he taking any infield practice at all ?? Also many slugging 1st basemen are former slugging 3rd basemen.
Devers would seem the obvious choice, with Grissom as the likely #2…
It’s odd they haven’t given Devers time at first, it wold get Yoshida’s bat in there at DH< and that's obviously their best lineup with Casas out.
Move Story over to first and bring in Marcello
Once he comes off the disabled list Cincinnati would pay you to take Jeimer Candelario off their hands. Or if there’s a bad contract swap to be done
Call the Phillies about Alec Bohm and offer a solid reliever.