Triston Casas showing off his power potential in the early stages of the 2022 season
Red Sox prospect Triston Casas is entering his fifth year in the organization. The 2022 season feels different for the top prospect as he is knocking on the door to the big league club. The way Casas is swinging the bat to start the 2022 season with Triple-A Worcester, he will see Fenway Park very soon.
Casas has now hit home runs in back-to-back games at Polar Park. The hulking power hitting first baseman now has three home runs in the early part of the season.
On Wednesday night, Casas crushed a 410-foot shot into the right field seats. His third home run came in the bottom of the seventh and gave the WooSox a commanding 7-1 lead against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.
“Going into that last at bat with two outs and nobody on, I figured why not and I definitely hit it well,“ Casas said following the game.
On Tuesday night, Casas hit a mammoth home run that went 477 feet out of the ballpark and hit off the roof of the Wormtown Brewery in right-center. Believe it or not, that home run by Casas is not the longest in the young history of Polar Park. Now retired Sox prospect Tate Matheny crushed a ball that went 481 feet last season.
Since Casas has joined the Red Sox organization after being drafted in the first round, 26th overall out of American Heritage High School he has mashed 38 home runs in 845 at-bats.
Despite his ability to crush the baseball over the fence, Casas isn’t focused on being a home run hitter.
“I feel like to be a power-hitter you shouldn’t have to hit home runs, one thing that was preached to me at a young age was to spray the ball all over the field” said Casas in an interview back in November with MLB Network.
“Take what’s given to you not only by the pitcher but the defense and really just have an approach up there and try to execute on a gameplay. I’m big and strong I’m more than capable enough to hit home runs,” added Casas.
The left-handed slugger excelled last season for the Red Sox and with Team USA in the Olympics. Casas has focused on the organization’s philosophies on hitting and conditioning while sticking true to what he learned growing up.
That conditioning has led to Casas gaining 25 pounds since he was drafted, the 6-foot-5 first baseman now weights 265 pounds. The added size will help him at the plate as he continues to evolve as a hitter while show casing his power.
“I feel like every year has been my year, but more importantly, this one that’s coming up in front of me,” Casas said Wednesday. “I think it will continue to be that way from here on out, whether I’m expected to make the major-league roster or go back to Triple-A. I’m always just looking forward to what’s ahead of me.
“I know that it’s going to happen one day and I just want to prepare as well as possible and make an impact when I get there, more importantly,” Casas added. “Hopefully, I’ll get a one-way ticket.”
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