Red Sox manager Alex Cora speaks out on Rafael Devers following Triston Casas' injury incident
The Injury Strike at Fenway - Boston Red Sox in a Pinch
The Boston Red Sox are facing a daunting challenge, as their first baseman, Triston Casas, is set to miss the rest of the 2025 MLB season due to a patellar tendon tear. This crushing blow occurred during last Friday's game against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park.
With Casas out, the Red Sox are left grappling with an unpredictable situation at first base. One of the potential solutions put forth is shifting Rafael Devers, who has excelled as the designated hitter since taking on the role post-Alex Bregman's arrival. However, Red Sox manager Alex Cora seems reluctant to move Devers from his comfort zone.
"He's my DH," Cora stated, reiterating his stance (per the Associated Press via ESPN). Devers' performance this regular season supports this decision, with a .250/.370/.441 batting average, five home runs, and 23 RBIs across 136 at-bats in 36 games.
Meanwhile, Casas, who posted a less impressive .182/.277/.303 batting line with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 155 at-bats through 35 games before his injury, is still recuperating.
In Casas' absence, Romy Gonzalez seems to be the top internal contender for the first base role. However, with the importance of this position, the Red Sox are showing signs of exploring external upgrades.
"This is unfortunately an opportunity to explore what's available," acknowledged Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, implying potential internal and external roster adjustments.
The Red Sox, after two consecutive losses to the Twins to conclude their series, boast an 18-18 record, placing them in second position in the American League East standings, just two games behind division leaders, the New York Yankees.
Enrichment Insights
With the injury to Triston Casas, the Red Sox face several potential internal and external options to fill the first base position:
- Internal Options:
- Romy González - Already playing first base, González is expected to continue in this role.
- Alex Binelas - A left-handed hitting first baseman with decent defensive skills and impressive speed.
- Vaughn Grissom - Primarily a second baseman, Grissom is demonstrating versatility by playing some first base in Triple-A.
- Nathan Hickey - Although relatively new to the position and more noted for his bat than defense, Hickey is another internal option.
- External Options:
- Dom Smith - Currently with the New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, Smith could be a trade target, despite his recent underwhelming performance.
- Anthony Rizzo - A free agent and former All-Star, Rizzo would be a strong addition, but his fitness might need time to recover after injury-filled seasons.
- Romy Gonzalez could continue in his role at first base for the Boston Red Sox, as their top internal contender to fill the position left vacant by Triston Casas' injury.
- The Red Sox may also consider external upgrades to bolster their first base position, with potential targets such as Dom Smith, a current member of the New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, or free agent Anthony Rizzo, who could provide a strong addition but might need time to recover from injury-filled seasons.
- Manager Alex Cora remains reluctant to move Rafael Devers from his designated hitter position, despite discussions about moving him to first base due to Casas' injury.
- Other internal options for the first base position include Alex Binelas, Vaughn Grissom, and Nathan Hickey, all players demonstrating versatility and potential at the major league level.
