UPDATE (4:30 p.m. ET): The Boston Red Sox have officially activated Triston Casas from the 60-day injured list ahead of Friday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Red Sox have designated Dominic Smith as a new player as part of a corresponding roster change.
Boston also activated pitcher Cooper Criswell from the COVID-19 injured list and sent pitcher Chase Shugart to Triple-A Worcester.
ORIGINAL POST: He’s back.
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According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Triston Casas is expected to be activated from the injured list on Friday.
Casas has been out of action since April 20 after suffering a torn cartilage in his rib cage during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boston took his rehabilitation from the injury (extremely) slowly, but the 24-year-old is expected to return on Friday, Ian Browne of MLB.com confirmed.
Casas is a game-changing addition for the Red Sox, who posted a .244/.344/.513 batting average with six home runs in the first month of the season.
The Red Sox slowly eased their first baseman back into action with an 11-game run in Triple-A Worcester. In that series, he posted a .300/.404/.550 batting average in 47 at-bats, with one home run and seven RBIs.
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Dominic Smith has received most of the playing time at first base during Casas’ absence and has filled in for him admirably. Boston will have a difficult decision to make with the left-handed veteran, as basic roster construction principles suggest that a right-handed option would fit best alongside the returning hitter.
The Red Sox will have to reshuffle their 40-man roster to add Casas back to the lineup. James Paxton is an option to replace him on the 60-day IL if his partially torn calf is indeed a season-ending injury.
