Triston Casas, First Baseman Of The Future, Makes His Debut Today

Triston Casas will make his major league debut today at Fenway Park, batting sixth and playing first base against Texas.

Casas, 22, was hitting .273/.382/.481 with 11 homers in 72 games for Worcester (AAA). He raked in August: .333/.459/.533. 

In addition to Casas, Josh Winckowski was recalled from Worcester. Bobby Dalbec was sent down to Worcester, Kutter Crawford went on the 15-day injured list (right shoulder impingement) and Tanner Houck was moved to the 60-day IL (upcoming back surgery).

An overview of Casas from Sox Prospects:

Physical Description: Strong, imposing frame. Thick, fully developed lower half. Will have to work to maintain body and athleticism. . . .

Hit: . . . Quiet pre-pitch. . . . Plus bat speed; whips the bat through the zone. Smooth, fluid swing, especially given his size. . . . Utilizes all fields. Will always have some swing-and-miss in his game, but for someone of his size, he has it well under control. Will take a walk and shows a keen eye at the plate. Has shown a willingness to try adjustments to his swing and to move on if they are not working. Has a clear two-strike approach in which he widens his stance and chokes up on the bat. . . .

Power: Plus-plus raw power. Easy all-fields power, but power plays best to the pull side. Has the ideal combination of size, strength, and bat speed for a power hitter. Ball really jumps off his bat. . . . [C]an project for at least plus in-game power at his peak and potentially more. . . .

Run: Well below-average speed. Not a part of his game. . . .Smart baserunner, reads the game well.

Field: Confident picking out throws in the dirt. Soft hands and surprisingly fluid actions. Moves well enough for first base. Potential solid-average defender there. Drafted as a third baseman, but footwork was choppy, he lacked range, and looked awkward fielding the ball there given his size.

Arm: Plus arm. Touched the low 90s on the mound in high school. Would have been plenty of arm for third base had he stuck there.

Summation: Potential everyday regular. Ceiling of an all-star capable of hitting for both average and significant power. Looks the part of a prototypical bat-first first baseman capable of anchoring a lineup. Projects to add some value defensively at first base. . . . Strong instincts and feel for the game. Great work ethic and strong clubhouse presence. Student of the game, really looks to hone his craft. Leads by example and is always willing to put in the extra work . . .

Back in March, Casas understood his promotion to Boston was ultimately out of his direct control, but: "When I get to Boston one day, I want to be an impact player from the first day."