Triston Casas named American League Rookie of the Year finalist
It’s been a while but the Red Sox have a Rookie of the Year finalist.
After a strong 2023 season, Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas has been named a finalist for the American League Rookie of the Year Award.
Casas is one of three top talented young players in the AL in Orioles’ standout Gunnar Henderson and Guardians right-handed pitcher Tanner Bibee.
“It was amazing,” Casas said on MLB Network of his finalist status. “With this year’s rookie class, I didn’t know where I was going to finish. Top to bottom — position players, pitchers. There was an emergence of a rookie class this year unlike any other.”
The 23-year-old started the season slow at the plate, posting a .195 batting average over the first two months. Fans on social media were calling for the young star’s demotion back to Triple-A Worcester.
The Red Sox disagreed and stayed the course with Casas who was able to right the ship once the summer months hit.
He finished the season slashing .263/.367/.490 with 24 home runs with 65 RBIs with a .856 OPS. Those summer months treated Casas nicely, mashing 18 homers once the calendar flipped to June. He tore the cover off the ball in the month of July tattooing pitchers and posting a .348 batting average with a eye popping 1.149 OPS and AL Rookie of the Month honors.
“I got to a position during the middle months where stuff started to heat up, and so did I,” Casas said of his second-half surge. “It was a trickle-down effect. One adjustment led into the other, which was constant progress throughout the year.
“It’s a credit to the coaching staff and the front office for giving me the opportunity to fail and find my groove. It was only a matter of time. I felt like I was confident in myself and so were they.”
Casas is looking to become the first Red Sox rookie to win the award since Dustin Pedroia won the honors in 2007. The last Sox player that was named a finalist was Andrew Benintendi in 2017.
The winner of the 2023 AL Rookie of the Year Award will be announced on Nov. 13.
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