The Boston Red Sox have been missing their power-hitting first baseman, Triston Casas, since he left the April 20 game due to a rib injury.
Casas was promptly placed on the 60-day injured list and is expected to be out for an extended period. He was diagnosed with torn cartilage around his ribcage, which he described as feeling like “a car crash within [his] body.”
Casas provided more details on his injury based on what doctors told him, and his recent comments might be concerning for MLB.
“It was a matter of time before this happened. [The doctor] said it was something similar to a pitcher needing Tommy John, just an inevitable thing that was going to happen sooner or later,” Casas said.
Doctors explained to Casas that his size and the high speed at which he rotates his body to swing the bat caused the cartilage tear. If ribcage injuries for batters become as common as Tommy John surgeries for pitchers, MLB could face a significant issue.
Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas’ comments on his rib injury should raise alarms in MLB
Eno Sarris of The Athletic recently reported on Casas’ injury and similar ones resulting from high-speed swings. His report delves into new statistics related to bat speed and includes player and coach opinions on bat speed training, which we won’t cover here.
In recent years, exit velocity and bat speed have become trendy stats for hitters — metrics highly valued by both organizations and players. This emphasis could lead to an epidemic of injuries among hitters, reminiscent of the rise in Tommy John surgeries for pitchers who are increasingly pushed to throw hard.
Casas’ bat speed ranks just outside the top 10 in the league, while Wilyer Abreu and Tyler O’Neill are in the top 20 for their short and fast swings — a perfect combination for success, albeit with inherent risks.
Rib and oblique injuries are already increasing this year, and Casas’ situation exemplifies what might lie ahead. Some of MLB’s biggest stars, such as Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Julio Rodríguez, also have high bat speed numbers.
Red Sox News: Triston Casas reveals target return date
On Thursday, Casas announced his aim to return on June 21, the first day he’s eligible to be activated from the injured list. Though this isn’t a guarantee, as he still has five weeks to recover and regain form, the slugging first baseman remains optimistic. Linking his mind and body, as he put it, is essential for his return.
The extent of caution needed during Casas’ rehab is unknown, but the Red Sox urgently need him back in the lineup as soon as he’s fully healthy. Their offense has significantly struggled in terms of power and situational hitting.
Red Sox fans will be closely monitoring Casas’ rehab progress, with June 21 marked on their calendars, albeit with an asterisk.
