Overview
- Casas, who the team said Wednesday has a strained left intercostal muscle near his ribs, was shut down from hitting as the Red Sox monitor symptoms and have not ordered an MRI yet.
- The 26-year-old has been rehabbing a ruptured left patellar tendon from May 2025, a recovery projected at about 14 months, and he had recently progressed to running, sliding drills, and live batting practice.
- The rib strain pauses that progress and makes the timing of his next rehab steps unclear after earlier hopes for a midseason return.
- Boston acquired Willson Contreras to handle first base, and a crowded first base and designated hitter group lessens urgency and points to minor-league reps for Casas once he is cleared.
- Casas missed much of 2024 with torn rib cartilage, underscoring a recurring rib area problem, though any connection to this new strain is unknown.