Red Sox’ Triston Casas has ‘substantial’ knee injury, ‘was in
BOSTON– In the after-effects of an otherwise encouraging 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins, the Red Sox lamented the loss of first baseman Triston Casas, who was carted off the field in the bottom of the 2nd inning following what seemed a major injury to his left knee.
“It’s a substantial knee injury,” verified Alex Cora. “He’s at the healthcare facility right now, getting more tests and all that things. We’ll have more information (Saturday).”
Cora and a member of the team’s training staff rushed out to take care of Casas, who stumbled over the very first base bag while attempting to vanquish a soft roller to the right of the mound, just to be up to the ground after the knee appeared to buckle.
“It looked like he was in shock, to be sincere with you,” said Cora. “He stated it immediately, that he didn’t feel it. It is difficult. He worked so hard. We want him on the field. It was a hustle play, too which took place.”
Cora said the scene on the infield dirt, with Casas on his back in apparent distress, was a psychological one for all involved.
“You put so much effort into (preparing) in the offseason,” said Cora. “I understand how it works and everything that he went through in the offseason, preparing for this. He was anticipating having a big season for us. It didn’t begin the way he wanted, however he kept grinding, kept working and now this occurs.
“We love (the game), we love the entire thing. But in the end, we’re people and you suffer with them. It was difficult to see it … It sucks, to be sincere with you. That’s the part you do not like about the task– when people get harmed and when you need to send individuals down. It’s pretty hard.
“Like I stated in the past, they put so much effort and work into the offseason to attempt to play 162-plus and then something like that takes place. That’s the factor we do not take it for approved– appearing to work every day and being a big leaguer. And he enjoys being a big-leaguer. He likes to come to the ballpark at 10 in the morning and leave at midnight and do his thing. For now, it’s going to be eliminated, but like I stated in the past, I told him he’s going to be back eventually.”
Cora said the atmosphere in the home dugout was “extremely quiet.”
“Awful,” concluded colleague Alex Bregman. “Certainly, we’re all thinking about him and expecting the best. Fantastic colleague and you hate to see that take place. We’re all thinking of him right now.”
Bregman said it was hard to focus on the game after the injury cast a pall on the group.
“For sure, it is difficult,” he said. “We’re a huge household in here that concerns the ballpark each and every single day together and to see among your guys go down like that, it’s really hard.”
Trevor Story, who suffered a major shoulder injury a week into last season which caused him to miss practically five months, came out to comfort Casas as he waited for the cart to take him off the field.
“(We were all) just in shock,” said Cora. “You do not expect that. And when you see the card, that’s when you (understand), ‘Oh … this is more than a twisted ankle’ or something like that.”
Asked what the group’s plans are for first base, Cora used little in the method of information.
“We’re going to meet after the game, and we’ll talk,” Cora said.More Red Sox protection