Boston first baseman Triston Casas will require surgery and likely is done for the season after suffering a ruptured left patellar tendon, Red Sox head of baseball operations Craig Breslow told reporters Saturday.
The Red Sox placed Casas on the 10-day injured list earlier Saturday before Breslow told reporters the team does not expect Casas to return this season.
Casas left the game against the visiting Minnesota Twins Friday night on a stretcher after suffering the injury in the bottom of the second inning.
He beat out a check-swing tapper that Twins pitcher Joe Ryan misplayed for an error. After stepping hard on top of the first base bag, his left foot hit the foot of Minnesota first baseman Ty France and Casas fell hard on his left knee.
“It’s tough. You feel for Triston given what he’s been through the last few years here,” Breslow said. “Seems like these injuries, they pop up in kind of unconventional ways. And unfortunately, this is a serious one that’s going to keep him out a long time.”
Casas also ran into misfortune last season, when he was limited to 63 games due to a left rib cage injury. He batted .241 with 13 homers and 32 RBIs.
The 25-year-old was batting .182 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 29 games this season.
Breslow said the “when, where” of Casas’ surgery is still being decided.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora called it “a significant knee injury” after Boston’ 6-1 win over the Twins.
Cora said Casas didn’t fully understand what had happened as he was worked on by trainers.
“It seems like he was in shock, to be honest to you,” Cora said. “He said right away that he didn’t feel it. It’s tough. He works so hard and we want him on the field. That was a hustle play, too, and that happened.”
Casas was replaced by Romy Gonzalez at first base on Friday. The Red Sox activated infielder Abraham Toro from Triple-A Worcester on Saturday but Breslow said “all options are on the table” when it comes to who will start at first base in Casas’ absence.
He would not rule out shifting Rafael Devers from designated hitter to first but said the team does not plan to move top prospects Roman Anthony or Marcelo Mayer to first base.
MLB Pipeline ranks Anthony, an outfielder, as the No. 1 prospect in baseball. Mayer, a shortstop, is the No. 10 overall prospect.
“Conversations about longer-term solutions are ongoing,” Breslow said. “We’ll figure out something, we’ve got no choice. I think, you know, this is a pretty resilient group.”
The Red Sox announced several other roster moves Saturday.
Left-handed pitcher Brennan Bernardino was reinstated from the bereavement list, and the Red Sox optioned right-handed pitcher Luis Guerrero to Triple-A Worcester.
–Field Level Media
