Triston Casas

Professional career

The Boston Red Sox picked Triston Casas 26th overall in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft. He signed for a $2,552,800 bonus, the full slot value, plus an annual salary of $774,000. Assigned to the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, Boston’s Rookie League affiliate, he hurt his right thumb while playing third base on June 25. He had season-ending surgery on June 29 to fix a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

In 2019, he started with the Greenville Drive in Single-A. He made the South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star team, and in early June Baseball America ranked him 98th on its top 100 prospects list. Late August brought a South Atlantic League Postseason All-Star nod and the Baseball America Red Sox 2019 Minor League Player of the Year award. Promoted to High-A Salem on September 1, he was named the Red Sox’ minor league offensive player of the year in mid-September.

Across 122 games with both clubs, he hit .254/.349/.476 with 20 home runs and 81 RBI. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to COVID-19. On August 20, the Red Sox added him to their reserve player pool for intra-squad workouts, and he later joined the fall instructional league. After the season, Baseball America ranked him the Red Sox’ top prospect.

In 2021, he started at Double-A with the Portland Sea Dogs and also played nine games for Triple-A Worcester, combining for a .279 average, 14 homers, and 59 RBI. Following the regular season, he was chosen for the Arizona Fall League and named the starting first baseman for the East team in the Fall Stars Game.

International career

Casas was the MVP of the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup while playing for the US 18-under national team. In May 2021, he made the US national team roster for the Olympic qualifiers.

After securing a spot in Tokyo, he was added to the Olympic roster on July 2. During the Games, he homered against South Korea, Japan, and the Dominican Republic. The US team took home the silver medal, falling to host nation Japan in the gold medal game.

Did You Know?

• Casas played high school baseball at American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida, where he played both corner infield positions.
• He reclassified and graduated high school a year early to be eligible for the MLB draft.
• His brother, Gavin, played college baseball as a first baseman for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.