Casas Dazzles With Oppo Pop, 2 Slides On 1 Play
BOSTON - Triston Casas' latest ground-breaking missile - which sliced his stick at 110.5 miles per hour, reached a height of 75 feet and traveled 421 feet per stat - was a must-see for those gathered at Fenway Park on Tuesday. the night
It was a defining moment, as the Red Sox ended their six-game losing streak with a 13-9 victory over the Orioles.
But don't sleep on Casas' two-slot defensive gem after taking a hit from Austin Hays in the fifth inning.
Hayes slapped one of them and left Boston's first rookie cop and turned around for a nice stop. A short while later, seeing Matt's left fielder on base, Casas was tight in the pocket before Hayes could get there.
He was a multi-talented figure at 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds. 2 Red Sox prospect whose big bat and sharp eye overwhelmed his defense.
"It's a big place out there," Casas said. "I knew Hayes had a good pace so I knew we weren't going to get a second and I just wanted to get one so instead of turning around and trying to throw it away I thought that was my best option..."
Using other sports expressions, Casas has good field awareness, especially for a 22-year-old.
"It's smooth the way it goes," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "He really is. He knows the game. He's always looking around, what's the next play going to be. I knew he was good defensively, but I didn't realize it."
Casas has clearly worked hard to become a strong two-way player.
"I'm very proud of my defense," Casas said. "I work hard every day, it's great to hit a home run, it's great to drive in a run, but good defensive play adds everybody up. I think anybody who wants to stay is a big part of the game, and my focus is everybody trusting me."
As much as the Red Sox would love to keep him in the pennant, Casas getting playing time this month as he adjusts to life in the majors in 2023 will be a huge help to the club and the players.
In the first 20 games of his career, Casas had five teammates — including three on the opposite court. Take 14 steps.
Casas has really clicked over his last six games, hitting .389 while striking out seven, striking out three and driving in eight runs.
"I know a lot of people say everything comes together and this and that, but I like to make every shot," Casas said. "I felt like my shot was too early, but I didn't connect it well. I haven't got the center of the barrel. Lately. Yeah, I'm hitting the same shot and getting the same spin, but I'm getting a little more spin, and I'm happy with that. .”
One thing the Red Sox didn't appreciate much about Casas in his first month in the majors? The statistical sample size is very small. Instead, they looked at how he operated inside the game.
Cora noted that Casas played the ball against two lefties in Tuesday's win, though one of them resulted in a double play.
"It was 3-2," Cora said. Controls the offensive zone. Not that he controlled the strike zone. Number will come. We like the method. We love this process."
