Triston Casas On Pace to Join Boston Red Sox Legends in Franchise History Books

Triston Casas has continued to break out this summer, and he is now on pace to join some elite company in Boston Red Sox lore.

The rookie first baseman currently leads all qualified Red Sox batters with an .859 OPS in 2023, despite entering the month of May with a .563 mark. Third baseman Rafael Devers ranks second on the team with an .846 OPS, while designated hitter Justin Turner's is sitting at .835.

According to Red Sox team employee JP Long, only two rookies have qualified for the batting title and led Boston in OPS over the last 51 years – outfielder Fred Lynn in 1975 and catcher Carlton Fisk in 1972.

Triston Casas leads qualified Red Sox hitters in OPS (.859).

The most recent rookies to qualify for the batting title and lead the Red Sox in OPS were Fred Lynn in 1975 (.967) and Carlton Fisk in 1972 (.909).

h/t @EliasSports
— J.P. Long (@SoxNotes) September 11, 2023

Although Fisk went on to make the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Lynn is one of the museum's most notable exclusions. Both players – who combined to make 20 All-Star Games in their careers – won Rookie of the Year.

Casas, meanwhile, is unlikely to secure the award this fall.

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson is currently in the driver's seat to secure that hardware come November. Cleveland Guardians right-handed pitcher Tanner Bibee has put up solid numbers of his own, while Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida was perhaps the league's top newcomer once Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung suffered an injury in August.

Casas does have the second-best odds to win AL Rookie of the Year at plus-2000, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, but that pales in comparison to Henderson's minus-1600 odds.

In 128 games this year, Casas is batting .263 with 24 home runs, 64 RBI and a 2.0 WAR. The 23-year-old was Boston's No. 2 prospect and the No. 23 prospect in baseball entering the season.

Casas is starting at first and batting fourth for the Red Sox in their series opener against the New York Yankees on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Across 12 career games versus the Yankees, Casas is batting .250 with a .981 OPS.

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