The Boston Red Sox have been without their power-hitting first baseman Triston Casas since he exited their April 20 game due to a rib injury.
Casas was swiftly placed on the 60-day injured list and is expected to remain sidelined for an extended period. Later diagnosed with torn cartilage around his ribcage, the 24-year-old described the injury as “a car crash within [his] body.”
Casas elaborated on the medical advice he received, which could raise concerns across MLB. “It was a matter of time before this happened,” he said, likening it to a pitcher needing Tommy John surgery—a foreseeable occurrence due to his size and the rotational force exerted when swinging a bat. If rib injuries become as prevalent among batters as Tommy John surgeries are among pitchers, MLB could face a significant problem.
A recent report by Eno Sarris of The Athletic highlighted Casas’ injury and others caused by high-speed bat swings, exploring new statistics on bat speed and opinions from players and coaches on bat speed training. Exit velocity and bat speed have become crucial metrics in MLB in recent years, but they may contribute to an epidemic of injuries among hitters, echoing the concerns over the rise in Tommy John surgeries.
Casas, whose bat speed ranks just outside the top 10 in the league, along with Wilyer Abreu and Tyler O’Neill, who rank in the top 20 in the league in short, fast swings, exemplifies the ideal combination for success, albeit with inherent risks.
Rib and oblique injuries have seen an uptick this year, and Casas’ injury underscores what may lie ahead. Several of MLB’s top stars, including Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Julio Rodríguez, boast high bat speed numbers.
This Triston Casas' quote from @enosarris's piece on the bat speed rollout is really good.
I hadn't thought about the stress implications of training hitters from a speed-of-movement perspective.
Rib/Obliques are the new UCLs for hitters?! I hope not. 😬 pic.twitter.com/lKBZOIW7JL
— Lance Brozdowski (@LanceBroz) May 13, 2024
In Red Sox news, Triston Casas disclosed a desired target return date. On Thursday, he expressed his intention to return on June 21—the day he’s eligible for activation from the injured list. Although not guaranteed, as he has five weeks remaining to recover and regain full form, the power-hitting first baseman remains optimistic. “It’s about syncing up the mind and body,” Casas remarked optimistically.
The extent of caution required during Casas’ rehabilitation remains uncertain, but his return is crucial for the Red Sox, whose offense has struggled notably in both power and situational hitting.
Red Sox fans will closely monitor Casas’ recovery, with June 21 circled on the calendar, albeit with a caveat.
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