Our correspondents, Alejandra Bonilla and Angel Aquino, recently caught up with Triston Casas to discuss his return to Quisqueya Stadium during the Inaugural Dominican Republic Series vs the Tampa Bay Rays and the upcoming season.
Triston Casas, was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft and made his MLB debut on September 4th, 2022, against the Texas Rangers, recording his first hit. In his two seasons in the MLB, Casas has hit .253/.365/.477, with a .842 OPS, 29 home runs and 77 RBIs.
Additionally, Casas played for the Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Republic Winter League during the 2022-23 season. As Casas returns to Quisqueya Stadium, he acknowledges the support he receives from the Licey organization and the fans. With his focus set on contributing to the Red Sox’s success, Casas remains determined to make an impact in the upcoming season.
Back to your home, Quisqueya Stadium. Do you remember when you first came here, and what feelings do you have returning?
Yes, I feel very comfortable here. Everyone in the Licey organization treats me like family. So, that’s how I feel in this stadium. I know I had only a few games here, but for them, even if I played just one game, I was already part of the Licey family. I’m very grateful for the passion with which they treat me.
You had a great second half of last season. What kind of adjustments did you make to achieve that?
I think I got comfortable after the first half. I know a lot about baseball and its history. I was playing against many of my favorite players I watched on TV, so it took time to adjust and get comfortable, but in the second half of the season, I already felt better on the field, and I think I’m going to try to continue that approach.
You worked a little more on your physique because we see that you are in better shape than when you were here in Dominican winter ball.
I haven’t lost weight, but thanks for the compliment. I’ve worked a lot on my physique to play a long season. That’s what we face: many games, a lot of baseball, and we want to play in October, so I need to get my body in shape to play at that time of the year too.
How do the Red Sox look for this season?
The team looks very good. Inside the clubhouse, we are very positive and happy with what we have. There is a lot of talent within those walls. We have all the talent to play well, so we just need to stay healthy, and I think we’re going to have a good year playing and winning many games.
You say you want to be in October, does that mean you liked the experience of Dominican baseball?
Yes, I want to be playing in October. I don’t know if it’s with Licey or with the Red Sox, but I want to play a lot of baseball this year. I want to reach the World Series with the Red Sox, that’s my mentality every day, from Spring Training to the regular season.
Any greetings for your Latin people, especially Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans?
Yes, I know I’m struggling with Spanish, but I have Cuban blood, and I have a lot of love for all Latinos. Everyone treats me like family here, Dominican, Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, they all treat me well, and I’m going to be working hard to uphold my name with the Latin people and countries. So, I am very grateful, and greetings to all the Latin fans.