Red Sox prospect Triston Casas eyes MLB debut in 2022: ‘I’m trying to make it as quick as possible’

Triston Casas has only met David Ortiz once, but it was certainly memorable.

It was 2019, and the then-19-year-old Casas — the Red Sox’ first-round draft pick in 2018 — was experiencing his first spring training game. Earlier in the day, Casas had been taking part in sliding practice on a field at the JetBlue Park complex, and had put on a baggy pair of pants over his regular pants for the drills.

Casas, when he entered the game, took off the baggy pants. In the dugout, it caught the attention of Ortiz and Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

“I guess Alex Cora was joking around with Papi about my pants because I guess they were a little tight,” Casas recalled Wednesday. “They didn’t fit exactly like he would wear his pants. …

“So, Cora called me over to him and Papi told me, he’s like, ‘Hey, we need to fix your pants. We need to get you a little more swag.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, coincidentally I was sliding with your old pants on Field 4 earlier today.’ He got a pretty good laugh out of that.”

On Tuesday, almost three years later, Casas watched as Ortiz became a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Ortiz, who profiles similarly to Casas as a power-hitting left-handed hitter, represents something of an inspiration for the Red Sox’ second-ranked prospect.

“I can only hope to emulate a little bit of that or even if I come close to half of it, it’ll be an accomplished career because he’s just done so much for the game and for the Red Sox Nation that I try to represent as well as I can,” Casas said. “He’s a good figure to follow.”

If everything goes according to plan, 2022 should mark the beginning of that big-league career. Casas is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Worcester, and his steady ascension over the last few years suggests the first baseman — who ranks as the No. 19 overall prospect, according to Baseball America — could make his Boston debut by the end of the season.

“I don’t have a timetable that they’ve told me, but all I can say is that I’m trying to make it as quick as possible,” Casas said.

But he certainly understands that this year is different. The last couple of years — which included a canceled minor league season in 2020, and then playing at the Olympics in Japan last summer — have been unorthodox for Casas, but he’s continued to impress at each new level and challenge he’s faced.

There may be an expectation that Casas breaks through to the majors this year, but he’s taking nothing for granted. A player already known to be detail-oriented, who follows a strict daily routine, Casas isn’t about to take any shortcuts now.

“I feel like every year has been my year,” said Casas, who’s participating in the Red Sox’ ‘Winter Warm-Up’ program in Fort Myers this week. “But more importantly, this one that’s coming up in front of me, and I think it’ll continue to be that way. From here on out whether I’m expected to make the Major League roster (or) go back to Triple A. I’m always just looking forward to what’s ahead of me and controlling what I can control has been my main focus. I know it’s very cliche, but it really speaks volumes to the way that I handle everything off the field and just getting as ready as I can to play at the major league level.

“I know it’s not a matter of when, it’s a matter of if, so I know that it’s gonna happen one day and I just want to prepare as well as possible and make an impact when I get there more importantly, and hit the floor rolling and not look back and hopefully get a one-way ticket.”

Casas said that he’s gained 25 pounds since being drafted in 2018, and weighs in at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds right now, which he’s happy with. But he still feels like he has room to grow, both mentally and physically. And as he prepares for a new season, Casas is continuing to get a better understanding of himself as a hitter.

He knows he’s big and strong enough to tap into his power, but his focus right now — which he called a learning curve last year as he played at multiple levels — is pitch recognition and staying mentally disciplined on his plan in the batter’s box. That included learning to be more patient, drawing walks and staying away from borderline pitches, all ingredients of a complete hitter he aspires to be, not just a power one.

“That’s a little bit of what I’m going to try to attack going into ’22, but I think I’m close,” Casas said. “My swing’s feeling really dialed in right now. I’m really excited to get into the season, get some at-bats going to see if what I’ve been working on is beneficial or not.”

If he can do that, a 2022 MLB debut may be even more realistic. Last year — which was long and hectic and didn’t end until November after he played in the Arizona Fall League — may have even served as a blueprint for this year if a late-season call-up awaits.

“I got an idea of my routines and stuff,” Casas said. “So, I’m going to look to build off that this year. Really sharpen those things and hone in on my skills and try to make that debut this year. That would be pretty cool.”