Red Sox add top prospect Triston Casas to player pool

The Red Sox have added their top prospect to their 60-man player pool.

Corner infielder Triston Casas reported to Boston this week and worked out at the alternate site for the first time on Thursday. Casas was pictured on the Pawtucket Red Sox official Twitter account taking ground balls on the left side of the infield at McCoy Stadium.

The 20-year-old Casas was the 26th overall selection by the Red Sox in the 2018 draft. He appeared in 120 games last season for a pair of [...]

The Red Sox have added their top prospect to their 60-man player pool.

Corner infielder Triston Casas reported to Boston this week and worked out at the alternate site for the first time on Thursday. Casas was pictured on the Pawtucket Red Sox official Twitter account taking ground balls on the left side of the infield at McCoy Stadium.

The 20-year-old Casas was the 26th overall selection by the Red Sox in the 2018 draft. He appeared in 120 games last season for a pair of Class A franchises, Greenville and Salem. Casas was named the organization’s Minor League Offensive Player of the Year after posting an .830 OPS on 26 doubles, five triples and 20 home runs.

"I don’t know enough about him to really get a feel on what we’re looking for other than the experience of not having to go through the season without playing," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "I think it’s important for him not only to be seen by us but for his development to get out there and actually play."

Hi, Triston #SoxTaxiSquad | @BankofAmerica pic.twitter.com/ShuE82L2iV

— PawSox (@PawSox) August 20, 2020

Casas was named a midseason and postseason All-Star in the South Atlantic League. He’s the first Boston minor leaguer since Xander Bogaerts in 2012 to hit at least 20 home runs before celebrating his 20th birthday. Casas was likely to start this season at Class A again but would certainly have been on the radar for promotion to Double-A Portland.

Casas drew scouts in bunches to his suburban Miami high school thanks to his size, production and left-handed stroke. The 6-foot-4, 238-pounder played in a pair of Under Armour All-American games and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 U-18 baseball World Cup with Team USA. Casas passed up a commitment to the University of Miami to sign for his full slot value of $2.55 million.

"Those are obviously going to be your top guys who you really like and feel like can contribute to your club," Roenicke said. "Whether that’s next year or the year after, it’s more down the road than looking at this year."

Per SoxProspects.com, the Red Sox now have seven of their top 10 organizational talents working in Pawtucket. Casas, infielder Jeter Downs, pitcher Bryan Mata and infielder Bobby Dalbec represent four of the top five.

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