The Red Sox suffered a major blow, as first baseman Triston Casas is likely out for the remainder of the season after he was diagnosed with a ruptured left patellar tendon.
Casas suffered the injury Friday in the second inning in a win over the Twins in Boston when he landed awkwardly as he attempted to beat out a slow grounder near first base.
He had to be carried off on a stretcher, and Saturday’s news confirmed the worst fears for the Red Sox, as chief baseball officer Craig Breslow acknowledged Casas would have surgery and “all options are on the table” when it comes to replacing him at first base.
The lefty-swinging first baseman, 25, has not come close to replicating his success of 2023, when he hit 24 homers and finished with an OPS of .856 in 132 games.
But he was limited to 63 games last season due to a rib injury, and even before he went down with the knee injury Friday, Casas was struggling at the plate.
Now the Red Sox are left with a hole at first base
Romy Gonzalez figures to get time, but he’s only started 17 games at the position.
Another potential option is Rafael Devers, primarily a third baseman throughout his career, but who was bumped to DH this season after Boston signed Alex Bregman.
Devers was initially unhappy about becoming a full-time DH and didn’t pick up his first hit of the year until the sixth game of the season — striking out 15 times in his first five games — but he’s since become much more productive.
The Red Sox also called up Abraham Toro from Triple-A Worcester on Saturday after putting Casas on the IL.
The veteran infielder has experience at three infield positions and is a switch-hitter.
As for Casas, manager Alex Cora said he felt bad for the young player.
“He put so much effort in the offseason,’’ Cora said. “I know how he works. Everything he went through in the offseason getting ready for this. He was looking forward to having a big season for us. It didn’t start the way he wanted, but he kept grinding, kept working. And now this happened.”
