The Boston Red Sox are off to a rocky start this 2026 season, sitting at 1-4, and while it's early days, there's already cause for concern among fans.
One major storyline this year is the anticipated return of Triston Casas, the slugger with a career .800 OPS, who’s been sidelined for nearly a full season. His comeback was highly anticipated, but recent developments have put a damper on those hopes.
In a recent update, Alex Cora announced that Casas has suffered a setback with sore ribs, meaning he’ll be "shut down for a while." This news is a tough pill to swallow for both Casas and the Red Sox faithful. Last season, Casas was out due to a knee injury involving a ruptured patellar tendon, and just as he was making progress, this new issue has emerged.
At 26, Casas was looking to reclaim his spot in the lineup, even with Willson Contreras stepping in after a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite the competition, Casas' left-handed power is something the Red Sox could certainly use.
Over his career, Casas has accumulated a 2.2 bWAR across 251 games, although his appearances have been limited recently, with just 29 games last year and 63 in 2024. His 45 career home runs and consistent .800 OPS over the past four years are numbers any team would be eager to have back in action.
Unfortunately, with this latest setback, the Red Sox will have to wait a bit longer for Casas’ return. Ensuring he’s fully healthy is crucial, and the team will be cautious, aiming for a 2026 comeback that sees him at his best.