The Boston Red Sox have made it clear that Willson Contreras will be stepping up as the team's first baseman on opening day, taking on the lion's share of the workload. This decision comes amidst questions about how the team will manage the position once Triston Casas makes his comeback from injury.
Casas' return date remains uncertain, but recent insights from insider Jen McCaffrey suggest that the Red Sox won't face any immediate dilemmas regarding playing time. Casas himself mentioned, “I don’t have a plan to start Opening Day with an affiliate.”
He added that discussions about his rehab location are ongoing, and the team is approaching his recovery on a week-by-week basis. With a return-to-play timeline of 12 to 14 months, Casas is currently at the 10.5-month mark, indicating his return isn’t imminent.
This timeline suggests that the Red Sox are preparing for Casas to be ready by early May, at which point he could begin a rehab assignment. Considering most assignments last 2-3 weeks, a return by the end of June aligns with the 12-month recovery estimate. If Casas leans towards the 14-month mark, his comeback could be pushed to later in the summer.
Initially, there was hope within the organization that Casas might see some minor league action towards the end of spring training. However, that optimistic schedule has been set aside. The Red Sox remain hopeful and are eagerly anticipating Casas’ return to bolster their lineup when the time is right.