The Boston Red Sox have been missing their power-hitting first baseman Triston Casas since he exited their April 20 game due to a rib injury.
Casas was promptly placed on the 60-day injured list, and his absence is expected to be prolonged. Later diagnosis revealed torn cartilage around his ribcage, a condition Casas likened to “a car crash within [his] body.”
Speaking to reporters, Casas disclosed insights from doctors regarding his injury, sparking concerns across MLB. He mentioned it was a matter of inevitability, similar to a pitcher requiring Tommy John surgery, due to his size and the speed at which his body rotates during batting. If ribcage injuries among batters become as prevalent as Tommy John Surgery among pitchers, MLB could face a significant challenge.
Eno Sarris of The Athletic recently delved into Casas’ injury and others resulting from high-speed bat swings, exploring emerging statistics on bat speed and opinions on bat speed training. The trendiness of exit velocity and bat speed among hitters could potentially lead to an injury epidemic, mirroring the concerns over the surge in Tommy John surgeries among pitchers.
Casas possesses one of the league’s top bat speeds, while players like Wilyer Abreu and Tyler O’Neill rank among the top 20 in short and fast swings. While this combination is conducive to success, it also carries inherent risks.
Rib and oblique injuries have been on the rise this season, with Casas’ case serving as a prime example of potential future trends. Notably, several MLB stars with high bat speeds, such as Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Julio Rodríguez, are at risk.
This Triston Casas' quote from @enosarris's piece on the bat speed rollout is really good.
I hadn't thought about the stress implications of training hitters from a speed-of-movement perspective.
Rib/Obliques are the new UCLs for hitters?! I hope not. 😬 pic.twitter.com/lKBZOIW7JL
— Lance Brozdowski (@LanceBroz) May 13, 2024
Casas aims to return by June 21, the day he becomes eligible to be activated from the injured list, although uncertainties remain regarding his recovery timeline. The Red Sox are eagerly awaiting his return, as their offense has suffered in his absence.
Fans will closely monitor Casas’ rehabilitation progress, with June 21 circled on their calendars, albeit with a note of caution.
