MIAMI — South Florida native Triston Casas didn’t make the trip back home with the Red Sox to Miami this week, but he’s continuing to ramp up in advance of potentially rejoining the lineup at some point this month.
Casas took approximately 20 dry swings (not making contact with anything) Tuesday at Fenway Park, manager Alex Cora said Wednesday. After receiving positive news following an MRI on his midsection last week, the first baseman is continuing to swing more and more in order to see if there’s any pain left in the area of his rib cage, where he tore cartilage in mid-April.
“He took like 20 swings yesterday, dry swings,” Cora said. “I don’t know where we’re at today but that’s where he’s at.”
Casas previously set various projected return dates for himself, including this week’s series in Miami, but the progression has been a bit slower than he hoped when he hit the injured list on April 21. He’ll still need to get to the point where he’s hitting baseballs before facing live pitching and eventually begin what may be a lengthy rehab stint in the minors. It’s virtually impossible to envision Casas returning before the All-Star break, which is 11 games away.
Other injury updates:
* Reliever Liam Hendriks (Tommy John surgery recovery) threw a bullpen at loanDepot Park on Wednesday, marking the third time he has taken the mound since throwing his first side session a week ago. The plan is for Hendriks to throw again Friday and Sunday at Yankee Stadium before continuing to ramp up next week in Boston. After that will be simulated games and, eventually, a rehab stint.
“He’s far off from all that stuff,” said Cora. “This is only fastballs.”
* Right-hander Bryan Mata (right hamstring strain) posted an uneven line in his second rehab outing at Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday night, allowing an unearned run on two hits while walking two batters in 2⅓ innings. He’s slated to start again Saturday or Sunday for the WooSox in Syracuse in what could be his second-to-last start before a decision is due on his future with the Red Sox on July 15, when his 30-day rehab clock expires.
“Velo was good,” Cora said. “The line is the line. But we feel OK with the way he competed.”
Mata got up to 51 pitches Tuesday after tossing 49 in his last outing June 27.
* Second baseman Vaughn Grissom (right hamstring strain) continues to do drill work in Boston but there’s no word on when he might head out on a rehab assignment. He has been sidelined since June 2 and has missed a total of 58 games due to injuries so far this year.
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