It’s getting increasingly difficult to envision the Red Sox making a push for a postseason spot this year, which might pave the way for a September filled with prospects playing in Boston.
For now, Alex Cora isn’t expecting to see Triston Casas.
The power-hitting first baseman has been one of the top prospects in Boston’s pipeline for years, and is now knocking on the door to a big league call-up. He’s been good this season for Triple-A Worcester when healthy, but an ankle injury has marred the 22-year-old’s campaign.
Especially as the Red Sox struggle to find stability – both from an offensive and defensive standpoint – at first base, giving Casas a look seems reasonable. That might happen before the season concludes, but Alex Cora told “Merloni, Fauria and Mego” that Casas needs to just play more.
“He hasn’t played enough this year, he didn’t play enough last year," Cora said. "He went to Team USA to the Olympic qualifier, then he went to the Olympics – it’s part of player development. Yeah, the numbers look great, but there are a few things he still needs to get better (at). I’m not saying or ruling out that he won’t be here, but as of now he’s not an option.
“We want him to get repetitions at that level, keep getting better and keep progressing. He’s going to be a big leaguer, when, I can’t tell you. It might be in 10 days, it might be in three days or it might be next year. We’re very happy with the progress but there are still a few things he needs to get better at.”
If Casas didn't miss a chunk of this season, there’s a good chance the conversation around him right now is different. But there’s no sense in rushing him up to the majors, even if watching him in September might be more palatable than Franchy Cordero, Bobby Dalbec or Eric Hosmer, who currently is on the injured list.
Calling up tons of prospects also is effectively an admission that your season is lost, so that potentially is a message the Red Sox aren’t presently ready to send.
Casas is hitting .265 with a .842 OPS in 64 games with Worcester this season. He has nine homers, 33 RBIs and 62 strikeouts in that stretch. He’ll get his opportunity in Boston, it just might not be in 2022.
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