Article: What Is Up With Triston Casas? The Struggling First Baseman Is Hurting Red Sox

[Nick John]

As the Boston Red Sox begin to get their offense going, there is still one player who is struggling: Triston Casas. He entered the season with expectations surrounding him to finally put together a full season, but it has been a very slow start for the first baseman.

Entering Monday’s game, Triston Casas was hitting .167/.241/.250 across 20 games. The biggest issue for him, however, may be the strikeouts, as he’s struck out 20 times in 72 at-bats (25.3%). When looking at his injury-filled 2024 season, Casas has seen his strikeout percentage drop from 31.7%. In 2023, though, it sat at 25.1% — this year hasn't seen a huge increase, but still one that could lead to issues if it persists.

One thing we would have to look at is Casas becoming a bit less patient at the plate, no longer working to get the pitch he wants, a fact that can be seen when looking at other parts of his game. During his rookie season of 2023, Casas was one of the best in the league at laying off pitches, his chase rate sitting at just 22.1% as a 23-year-old. He showed an amazing understanding of the strike zone for such a young player. That has seemingly regressed in 2025, as he’s now chasing 26.4% of pitches. A 4.3% increase may not look too bad on the surface, but it presents a new weakness major league pitchers can exploit.

This more aggressive approach has led to a decrease in several areas of his game, as his whiff percentage has increased while his walk percentage has dropped drastically. Naturally, because he's chasing more, he's not squaring up the ball as much when he does make contact, meaning his hard-hit numbers are also on a downward trend.

One of the biggest issues is definitely his walk rate, dropping from 13.9% in 2023 to now sitting at 7.1%, while his whiff percentage has increased from 28.1% to 32.4%. Now, it’s easy to say that all of this is just a slow start for Casas. It’s easy to see that he’s been known as a slow starter, and if we actually compare his first 14 games of 2023 to 2025 it doesn’t look as bad as we think.

In 2023, Casas had a batting average of .135 while his OPS was .528. He also had two home runs, struck out 20 times and walked six times. Through 14 games in 2025, he was doing a little better, hitting .175 with a .523 OPS. While he only has a single home run, he also had struck out less (18) to go with four walks. Of course, his numbers have declined more as the season has continued, but this isn’t the first time he’s had a rough start to the season.

Besides his more aggressive approach at the plate, there may be another issue with his approach. Last season, he was injured after tearing rib cartilage on a swing, which was partly due to his explosive upper-half compared to a laggy lower body. With improved health, the hope was his bat speed would return to its previous form.

Currently, the average bat speed for Casas is 74.7 mph, and in his injured 2024 season it sat at 74.6 mph, both numbers being a drop off from his rookie season’s 75.8 mph. Add to it that his fast-swing rate (the percentage of swings that register over 75 mph) is drastically below his 2023 number. Early in the season, Casas currently sits at a 49.6% rate, while in 2023 that number was 61.5%.

The injury might have forced Casas to change his stance, and now it’s hindering him at the plate. As mentioned before, he isn’t hurt, but he did return in 2024 while still feeling pain. He admitted that it still stung when he swung, and you could see on some swings he was still feeling it. What if he had to adjust his stance and how he swung because of that? And due to that, his body got used to it and his stance has now changed because of it?

When you look at his stance and the changes made to it, especially with how he stands in the box, you'll notice specifically that his batter position has changed when it comes to his distance off the plate and most importantly the distance between his feet.

In his 2023 season, Casas was 29.3 inches off the plate. Now, he’s 29.7 inches off the plate. While this would help him with inside pitches, it's certainly made him susceptible to outside pitching, which may explain his newfound desire to chase things off the plate. Currently in 2025, he’s whiffing on 82% of all pitches thrown down and outside of the zone to him, a number that was a more sustainable 54% in 2023.

Along with this, his feet are wider apart than ever in his career at 25.3 inches, an increase from 18.4 inches in 2023. With the added distance between his feet, Casas has also seen a shift in the angle of his stance. As a rookie he stood in a closed stance, just one degree, but now he’s standing at four degrees open, which changes how he views pitches and how he can get to them depending on the zone they’re thrown at. His hands are closer in to his body and appear slightly higher to begin as well, making his timing slightly different as well.

There could be a lot of behind-the-scenes reasons for Casas struggling. As a reminder, it's still only mid-April, and Casas has a history of being a slow starter. Remember, in 2023 Casas hit .133/.283/.293 at the end of April.

He has time to figure it out, especially as the rest of the offense seems to be carrying the load. Though, eventually, Casas will have to show up at the plate, or else the Red Sox will have to look towards someone else to play first base.

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[moonslav59]

Casas has started 19 games. He's been horrible. We all agree on that. His defense has always been terrible. That hasn't changed.

I think it's too early to pull the plug. I hope he's not the next Dalbec. He had a longer good stretch than Dalbec did, and his OBP blew Bobby Dee's away.

Casas: first 222 games.

.250 BA

.357 OBP

.473 SLG

125 OPS+

Dalbec's first 156 games (66 games smaller than Tristan's)

.2423 BA

.308 OBP

.511 SLG

114 OPS+

I'm not sure Grissom & Romy are the solution, but maybe someday, we may have to try it out.

Anyone want to find another Dom Smith type?

 

[Kimmi]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Casas has started 19 games. He's been horrible. We all agree on that. His defense has always been terrible. That hasn't changed.

I think it's too early to pull the plug. I hope he's not the next Dalbec. He had a longer good stretch than Dalbec did, and his OBP blew Bobby Dee's away.

Casas: first 222 games.

.250 BA

.357 OBP

.473 SLG

125 OPS+

Dalbec's first 156 games (66 games smaller than Tristan's)

.2423 BA

.308 OBP

.511 SLG

114 OPS+

I'm not sure Grissom & Romy are the solution, but maybe someday, we may have to try it out.

Anyone want to find another Dom Smith type?

 

I understand everyone's frustration with Casas, but we have to stay patient.  Fortunately, the Sox are holding their own in the division, so that allows us to have more patience with him.  Casas has been terrible so far this year, but as others have mentioned, the fact that it's the beginning of the season makes his stats more glaring.  Most players will go through a prolonged slump during the season, but the slump is somewhat masked by already-accrued season stats.

Not that I want another Dom Smith type at first base, but last year, he became my favorite Red Sox player when he was here.

[moonslav59]

43 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I understand everyone's frustration with Casas, but we have to stay patient.  Fortunately, the Sox are holding their own in the division, so that allows us to have more patience with him.  Casas has been terrible so far this year, but as others have mentioned, the fact that it's the beginning of the season makes his stats more glaring.  Most players will go through a prolonged slump during the season, but the slump is somewhat masked by already-accrued season stats.

Not that I want another Dom Smith type at first base, but last year, he became my favorite Red Sox player when he was here.

I didn't mean to slight Dom, but remember, we cycled through Cooper, first.

It's not something we'd want to have to do. I think Grissom & Romy would get the first look, if Casas slumps for 2-3 more weeks.

I think Casas is a good hitter. I'm not sure what this funk is about, but I have faith in him coming around.

(Sorry Splendid, I have no evidence to support my faith.)

[iortiz]

Watch the Netflix series. If you watch it carefully you’ll notice that this guy lacks of self-confidence. Also I see him very fat right now. Hopefully I’m wrong but I don’t see this ending up well. 

[Bellhorn04]

12 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I didn't mean to slight Dom, but remember, we cycled through Cooper, first.

I thought that started as a platoon-y thing until Cooper established himself as toast, unfortunately.

[moonslav59]

21 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I thought that started as a platoon-y thing until Cooper established himself as toast, unfortunately.

You are right. I though Cooper was signed a couple weeks before Smith, but it was only 3 days earlier.

[moonslav59]

10 hours ago, iortiz said:

Watch the Netflix series. If you watch it carefully you’ll notice that this guy lacks of self-confidence. Also I see him very fat right now. Hopefully I’m wrong but I don’t see this ending up well. 

I watched the full series and thought it was eye-opening.

I got the sense Casas is one unique guy, but I did not sense a lack of confidence.

He's had bad streaks, before. He's also had some very long stretches of hitting very well. If he hits like he has, he's our 3rd or 4th best hitter and second in HR power.

[mvp 78]

He has 3 more weeks to get his act together or they are going to find a temporary replacement and option him to AAA.

[Bellhorn04]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He has 3 more weeks to get his act together or they are going to find a temporary replacement and option him to AAA.

Think that potential replacement might be Grissom?

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Think that potential replacement might be Grissom?

He's only had 3 games down there at 1B and I haven't heard if he's any good. It can't be as bad as Franchy, right? It's great that he's showing offensive value again.

It'd be wild to replace Triston with his best friend even just temporarily. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

29 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

He's only had 3 games down there at 1B and I haven't heard if he's any good. It can't be as bad as Franchy, right? It's great that he's showing offensive value again.

It'd be wild to replace Triston with his best friend even just temporarily. 

So he won't be his best friend anymore if he replaces him? 

It's not like he's stealing his girlfriend -- or worse, his dog!

 

[mvp 78]

27 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

So he won't be his best friend anymore if he replaces him? 

It's not like he's stealing his girlfriend -- or worse, his dog!

I think Casas is a guy who hasn't been well liked by his teammates. I mean, just think about when he first came up and got pushback about his pregame routine. Even in the NESN documentary, he seems like more of a loner than everyone else. Cora has said more negative things about Casas than he would about most other players. Maybe it's just a motivation tactic, maybe it's something else? It just seems like he's a guy that is left on alone on his island a lot of times for better or worse. After his walk off, he kept looking over his shoulder during the interview for a gatorade shower that never came. If anyone needed a pick me up at that time, it was him. Really awkward moment. Kind of sad. 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

He has 3 more weeks to get his act together or they are going to find a temporary replacement and option him to AAA.

Sounds about right. He could end up earning his way back by hitting in AAA.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I think Casas is a guy who hasn't been well liked by his teammates. I mean, just think about when he first came up and got pushback about his pregame routine. Even in the NESN documentary, he seems like more of a loner than everyone else. Cora has said more negative things about Casas than he would about most other players. Maybe it's just a motivation tactic, maybe it's something else? It just seems like he's a guy that is left on alone on his island a lot of times for better or worse. After his walk off, he kept looking over his shoulder during the interview for a gatorade shower that never came. If anyone needed a pick me up at that time, it was him. Really awkward moment. Kind of sad. 

That's an interesting observation, and I'm surprised no reporter has mentioned it (wouldn't want to rock the juggernaut season we're having). Hope Cora at least spoke to a few leaders in the clubhouse, because even if he doesn't like all his guys, he knows he's gonna need them all to win (seriously: Romy at 1B will carry us through October?).

If the org thinks Casas is full of it, and won't admit to them exactly how much pain he's still in, then why would they have confidence in him to still generate the same torque he once had to drive the ball?

The sad part to me is if his teammates shun him just because he's a different personality. The Red Sox loved Bill "The Spaceman" Lee -- as long as he was pitching well... but when he started to age, they couldn't wait to launch him into the sun.

Luckily for Lee, he was able to latch onto a gopher ball in orbit he once threw to Harmon Killebrew, and has been circling diamonds ever since. He still plays in old-timers leagues or on tournament teams at age 78 -- who's a better ambassador for a sport than that?

Spaceman is more erudite with more old-timey stories than any of the ex-Red Sox players NESN keeps hiring year after year -- but they just can't trust him live... even with a 10-second audio delay. But they're idiots, because Lee would be can't-miss TV... fans would never use mute buttons again.

[moonslav59]

24 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

That's an interesting observation, and I'm surprised no reporter has mentioned it (wouldn't want to rock the juggernaut season we're having). Hope Cora at least spoke to a few leaders in the clubhouse, because even if he doesn't like all his guys, he knows he's gonna need them all to win (seriously: Romy at 1B will carry us through October?).

If the org thinks Casas is full of it, and won't admit to them exactly how much pain he's still in, then why would they have confidence in him to still generate the same torque he once had to drive the ball?

The sad part to me is if his teammates shun him just because he's a different personality. The Red Sox loved Bill "The Spaceman" Lee -- as long as he was pitching well... but when he started to age, they couldn't wait to launch him into the sun.

Luckily for Lee, he was able to latch onto a gopher ball in orbit he once threw to Harmon Killebrew, and has been circling diamonds ever since. He still plays in old-timers leagues or on tournament teams at age 78 -- who's a better ambassador for a sport than that?

Spaceman is more erudite with more old-timey stories than any of the ex-Red Sox players NESN keeps hiring year after year -- but they just can't trust him live... even with a 10-second audio delay. But they're idiots, because Lee would be can't-miss TV... fans would never use mute buttons again.

Well said, as always.

I think if the Sox did not like Casas, they would have traded him, even without Yoshi attached.

The guy has been a very good hitter, except for a few short stretches. This one happened to be from day 1, so his numbers look awful.

I like MVP's suggested 3 week leash.

[iortiz]

6 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I watched the full series and thought it was eye-opening.

I got the sense Casas is one unique guy, but I did not sense a lack of confidence.

He's had bad streaks, before. He's also had some very long stretches of hitting very well. If he hits like he has, he's our 3rd or 4th best hitter and second in HR power.

He said he lived in a hotel because he can’t make long-term commitments. He even said he won’t be surprised he is sent down again. He doesn’t see himself as the titular 1B for the Boston Red Sox say for the next 10 years. The way he says that speaks volumes, but again, hopefully I’m dead wrong.

[Hitch]

11 minutes ago, iortiz said:

He said he lived in a hotel because he can’t make long-term commitments. He even said he won’t be surprised he is sent down again. He doesn’t see himself as the titular 1B for the Boston Red Sox say for the next 10 years. The way he says that speaks volumes, but again, hopefully I’m dead wrong.

He did come off as a unique individual. I think he's possibly uncomfortable in his own skin. He talks a lot in the affirmative "I'm a big guy - you couldn't take me", "I love to walk home. I'm a big guy, nobody will bother me", but it never felt natural.

I mentioned this the other day - it's a dangerous game to read too much of anything into these series (or any documentary). This is what I do for a living and things get left on the cutting floor that would change your perception quite strongly on things. And yet it's hard to shake the feeling with Casas as his whole demeanour seems similar every time he's interviewed, any time he speaks, and it matches up with the series somewhat. It's almost like he's constantly living an act, while trying very hard to act like it isn't. Of course, I could be way off. 

I have never really like the kid. After watching the show, I found myself feeling sorry for him.  He seems lonely. 

[notin]

6 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Think that potential replacement might be Grissom?

Devers, with Yoshida taking DH…

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

Devers, with Yoshida taking DH…

Devers still hasn't taken any reps at 1B. Not sure how that would be the plan. I think Cora may have even said they wouldn't put Devers in the field if there was an injury.

[Kimmi]

7 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

He has 3 more weeks to get his act together or they are going to find a temporary replacement and option him to AAA.

I am fine with giving Casas about 3 more weeks to at least show signs of coming out of his funk.  Thankfully, he has options remaining, if needed.

[Kimmi]

6 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

I think Casas is a guy who hasn't been well liked by his teammates. I mean, just think about when he first came up and got pushback about his pregame routine. Even in the NESN documentary, he seems like more of a loner than everyone else. Cora has said more negative things about Casas than he would about most other players. Maybe it's just a motivation tactic, maybe it's something else? It just seems like he's a guy that is left on alone on his island a lot of times for better or worse. After his walk off, he kept looking over his shoulder during the interview for a gatorade shower that never came. If anyone needed a pick me up at that time, it was him. Really awkward moment. Kind of sad. 

I was thinking the same thing about the non-Gatorade shower from his teammates.  I felt kind of bad for Casas.

[Kimmi]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Devers still hasn't taken any reps at 1B. Not sure how that would be the plan. I think Cora may have even said they wouldn't put Devers in the field if there was an injury.

They really should start giving Devers reps at 1B.  That could solve a couple of issues.

[iortiz]

2 hours ago, Hitch said:

He did come off as a unique individual. I think he's possibly uncomfortable in his own skin. He talks a lot in the affirmative "I'm a big guy - you couldn't take me", "I love to walk home. I'm a big guy, nobody will bother me", but it never felt natural.

I mentioned this the other day - it's a dangerous game to read too much of anything into these series (or any documentary). This is what I do for a living and things get left on the cutting floor that would change your perception quite strongly on things. And yet it's hard to shake the feeling with Casas as his whole demeanour seems similar every time he's interviewed, any time he speaks, and it matches up with the series somewhat. It's almost like he's constantly living an act, while trying very hard to act like it isn't. Of course, I could be way off. 

I have never really like the kid. After watching the show, I found myself feeling sorry for him.  He seems lonely. 

Everyone but him believes he’s the future 1B. What he does off the field including his “eccentric” habits mean very little if anything to me as long he delivers on the field, but IMO he tries so hard to be “different” to the point that seems like acted or fake to say the least. 

[moonslav59]

9 hours ago, iortiz said:

He said he lived in a hotel because he can’t make long-term commitments. He even said he won’t be surprised he is sent down again. He doesn’t see himself as the titular 1B for the Boston Red Sox say for the next 10 years. The way he says that speaks volumes, but again, hopefully I’m dead wrong.

I missed the "might be sent down" quote.

I'm not sure avoiding long term commitments is a sign of a lack of confidence.

Anyway, he's always looked like a decent batter, to me.

[mvp 78]

15 hours ago, Kimmi said:

They really should start giving Devers reps at 1B.  That could solve a couple of issues.

If they do it, it'll be in the offseason. 

[Hitch]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

If they do it, it'll be in the offseason. 

Agreed. Very unlikely to happen now. 

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Agreed. Very unlikely to happen now. 

 

Especially with him not exactly tearing the cover off the ball. He has enough to worry about offensively, that I'd rather him just figure that out this season. 

[Kimmi]

On 4/23/2025 at 8:20 AM, mvp 78 said:

If they do it, it'll be in the offseason. 

I don't disagree.  It could be a nice solution to a couple of issues, though.