While the void of first base has been somewhat filled with the platoon of Abraham Toro and Romy González, the presence of Red Sox every day first baseman, Triston Casas, is evident within the clubhouse’s successful young core. As a fan favorite, known for his unique perspective and profound wisdom, he is still missed daily/nightly, even though his teammates are handling the position well as the Red Sox look towards the second half with a ten-game win streak. At the beginning of May, Casas, who was just starting to heat up at the plate, sustained a significant knee injury when he ruptured his patellar tendon as he fell in the basepath after his leg buckled oddly stepping on the bag. Visibly uncomfortable immediately after it happened, Casas was carted off the field, and later found out he needed surgery, giving himself a timeline of Opening Day 2026 for his estimated return, just one year after missing a significant chunk of time in 2024 due to a rib injury. A projected 30-40 home run season hitter who consistently seems to meet roadblocks in his road to success in the majors, it’s no secret that Casas has been dealt a rough hand to begin his career in Boston, all while adjusting and acclimating to playing in the majors.

The slugger, while “living his worst nightmare” during his rehab from this reconstructive surgery, continues to watch the 2025 season from the dugout; he has still managed to keep himself busy off the field. When he was suddenly given a significant amount of free time following his injury, he decided to pursue one of his long-held desires: creating a philanthropic foundation. On June 3rd, 2025, that dream came into fruition as the Triston Casas Foundation was established in conjunction with the Red Sox Disability Pride Day at Fenway Park. The organization’s purpose is “dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities by promoting inclusion, respect, and equal opportunity,” according to its website. With the Foundation’s support of Special Olympics and Best Buddies in addition to the programs and initiatives they have already started, despite being only a month old, they provide opportunities for all individuals, including (and especially) those with disabilities, to thrive. The mission of the Casas Foundation is to create a future where inclusion is the standard and every person feels seen, heard, and valued. Baseball is such a collaborative sport, and providing athletes with disabilities, specifically those who love America’s pastime as much as Casas, with a memorable experience like a Ballpark Buddies tour, in which they’d cover travel and accessibility costs for people and their families, is just the beginning of the potential bridge Major League Baseball could cross in making ballparks and the sport a more inclusive environment.

Week one in the books for Triston’s foundation! We had our launch day for the Best Buddies Ballpark Tour at Fenway Park 6/3 & then Yankees Stadium 6/6! Triston and our TCF team is committed to enriching lives of people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. pic.twitter.com/aybFPvaGpV

— Triston Casas Foundation (@TCF36) June 8, 2025

With such a young player taking this much initiative in creating an inclusive space while sharing the thing he loves most, baseball, with the community, it’s something that Casas clearly treasures. While it’s not as explosive as a three-run shot over The Monster, this Foundation, even in its early stages, will do wonders for all the different communities that have disabilities the Triston Casas Foundation supports. TCF plans to bring Best Buddies pairs to Red Sox games in Boston, New York, and Casas’ home state of Florida throughout the season. These immersive visits include tickets, field access, and a personal meet-and-greet. The Foundation also supports the Special Olympics, “By funding and creating inclusive opportunities that empower athletes of all abilities.” Through his Foundation, the first baseman connects with many individuals of all abilities. He tells their stories in “Casas Champions,” highlighting “people whose resilience, heart, and stories move him personally.”

 

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Seeing Casas, a player who has been known to march to the beat of his own drum, spearhead an initiative that allows so many to be their most authentic selves while being around the game we all love is the embodiment of what it means to truly be a member of the Red Sox organization, being reminiscent of another fan favorite with major philanthropic aspirations, the late Tim Wakefield. Even with the rumors of the Red Sox looking to find assistance and insurance at first base while Casas rehabs, just knowing that he is still actively trying to make a difference in the Red Sox community in any way he can shows how much love the young first baseman has for the team and organization at large, and to move on from him so prematurely this young in his career solely due to injury would be a disservice not just to the team but to Red Sox Nation, who has watched Casas grow both on and off the field since the 2018 draft. While it’ll still be some time before fans see him playing under Fenway lights again, it’s heartwarming to see him still there, positively impacting the community and the team atmosphere in any way he can. If you would like to donate to the Triston Casas Foundation, you can do so through this link.