Red Sox’s Triston Casas offers update, clarification on rib injury

Red Sox

Casas said he doesn’t have a specific recovery timetable, but he hopes to return at some point this season.

Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas provided an update on his rib injury on Friday, offering both good and bad news.

Casas, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a fractured left rib, described his ailment another way when he spoke to reporters at Fenway on Friday: torn cartilage.

Boston initially classified the illness as rib strain after Casas left the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. He was injured while making a hard hit in the first round. He left the game after receiving a walk and was replaced defensively.

Casas’ latest diagnosis does not shorten or extend his recovery time or change when he will be back on the field, the 24-year-old said. This timetable is not set in stone, however.

He could start cardio activity in three to nine weeks, Casas said. Nine weeks from now, it will be the end of June, which may allow him to return after the All-Star break, should he follow that particular schedule.

Although he is not sure when he will return to the diamond, Casas said he plans to play again in 2024.

Since being sidelined, Bobby Dalbec has primarily started games at first base for the Red Sox. Dalbec has a 0.77 batting average with a .143 on-base percentage in 17 games.

Dalbec is by far the best option available on the team to replace Casas at first base, but Boston surely misses Casas’ bat. Before his injury, Casas was hitting .244 with a .344 OBP this year. He hit six home runs and recorded 10 RBIs in 22 games. Not to mention that the plate heated up following a cold start.