The Future of First base in Boston
Photo by Kevin C. Cox (Getty Images)
One of the most important positions arguably in the sport of baseball is the first basemen. First base has been a kind of hole for the Red Sox over the last couple of seasons ever since their historic 2018 world championship series. The last foundational player to play that position for the Sox was Mitch Moreland. Although Moreland was good and helped propel that 2018 team to a championship, not many players have followed. Moreland left the Red Sox mid-way through the 2019 season and rejoined in 2020 but was also later released. Since then it has been a void at the position and a plethora of different players (usually not natural first basemen). Since Moreland there have been a handful of players, for instance: Michael Chavis, Bobby Dalbec, Christian Arroyo, Franchy Cordero, Kyle Schwarber, to name a few. However, there is hope on the horizon for the Red Sox. In 2018, the Red Sox drafted an up-and-coming star named Triston Casas. Casas first lit up the scene in the 2020 Summer Olympics playing for Team USA. In his performance on the big stage, Casas helped Team USA make it to a silver medal with a field leading 8 RBI’s and 3 homeruns. Later he would be named to the All-Olympic Team for first base.
Photo by Steph Chambers (Getty Images)
Many believed Casas first full MLB season this year, 2023, was going to be something legendary to witness. However, he would start the season off slow and struggle for the first month. If you are a fan of baseball, you would know that rookies take time to get acclimated to the MLB setting. Many Red Sox fans however saw this slow start as what Casas was going to be his whole career. Furthermore, the young first baseman has struggled as of late with his defense. It is not all a lost cause as some may think Casas has been improving tremendously over the last month. Over the last month and a half, he is slashing .248 avg, .353 obp, and a .416 slg good for a .769 ops. While these stats may not blow off the page this is much more what the Red Sox were hoping for from the young player. Triston Casas is going to be the future of the Red Sox and he is going to help this core develop. The more opportunities he gets the better and better he seems to get. Many Sox fans should be excited to watch this youngster get acclimated to the big leagues and find his stride with this ballclub.