Last week, the Boston Red Sox provided a concerning update regarding Triston Casas’ recovery from his rib injury. On July 19, Red Sox manager Alex Cora stated that Casas was “far” from being ready for a rehab assignment.
However, early in the week of July 21, Cora shared that the first baseman had “turned a corner” and might soon be back in action. Boston’s chief baseball officer Craig Breslow confirmed this positive development on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on July 25.
“He’s made significant progress over the past week, now taking swings at full intensity and participating in full batting practice,” Breslow said. “So, he might start rehab games very soon, potentially by the end of this week, which is a substantial improvement from the timeline we discussed a few weeks ago.”
Craig Breslow says Triston Casas could begin rehab assignment soon https://t.co/JfAtVYx1sE #RedSox pic.twitter.com/XH5QB8hW98
— WEEI (@WEEI) July 25, 2024
While this is the most optimistic update the Sox have provided on Casas’ rehab, Breslow urged fans to temper their expectations. He noted that Casas still has some lingering issues to address before returning to major league play.
Triston Casas’ rehab journey has been emotionally turbulent for Red Sox fans. Initially, Casas hoped to rejoin the roster on June 21, the first day he was eligible to come off the 60-day injured list. However, his return was delayed multiple times—first to July 1, then after the All-Star break, and after Cora’s update that he was “far” from a rehab assignment, many feared he wouldn’t return until September.
Casas will likely require a lengthy rehab assignment before he’s ready to face big-league pitching. Rehab stints can last up to 20 days, and if his assignment starts at the end of this week, Casas could return by mid-August.
This timing would be perfect for a postseason push during one of the toughest stretches of the Red Sox’s schedule. Casas, along with any trade deadline acquisitions, maybe Boston’s best shot at securing a playoff spot.