Triston Casas’ Red Sox Comeback Bid Just Took an Important Turn

The Boston Red Sox don't have one of their best sluggers in the big leagues right now.

Triston Casas is still working his way back after his 2025 season was cut short after just 29 games due to a left patellar tendon rupture. Casas was one of the biggest stories of Spring Training. While he didn't play in a big league game for the Red Sox throughout camp, he was working his way back behind the scenes the entire and questions popped up left and right about what his timeline for a return could be.

MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo reported that Casas could be back around June 1, if all goes well over the next few months. He's not ready to get into game action, but The Boston Globe's Tim Healey reported that Casas checked another box in his recovery while practicing sliding near the end of Spring Training, but minor league games are not "imminent."

The Red Sox slugger is working his way back into the mix

Apr 22, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox first base Triston Casas (36) hits a three run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

"Triston Casas practiced sliding near the end of spring training, [Red Sox manager Alex Cora] said, another box checked amid his comeback from left knee surgery last May," Healey wrote. "Playing in minor league games is not imminent. 'I’m not saying we’re a long ways from that, but it’s not this week,' Cora said."

The fact that Casas has been able to start sliding is very positive in itself. That's a serious step in the right direction after suffering a serious knee injury, like Casas did. The fact that minor league action is not "imminent" isn't shocking. When he officially begins a minor league rehab stint, the clock is going to start ticking. As a position player, a minor league rehab assignment comes with a timeline of 20 days. Now, of course, the Red Sox could option him down to the minor leagues afterward, which seems likely, but it's just another move that would need to be made.

At this moment, there's no need to rush. If Cotillo is right about Casas being ready around June 1, that adds context to a minor league rehab assignment not being "imminent." Let him get up to 100 percent strength and then go from there. Progress has been made, clearly.

But there also isn't a clear path to playing time in the majors for Boston right now for Casas. There's no need to rush at all. The fact that he was sliding is a sign that he's not too far from game action. Right when a minor league rehab assignment begins, then we can really dive into what a timeline and a potential look like.