Red Sox Rumors: Triston Casas' Sunbathing, Pregame Naps Bothered Veteran Players

Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas made the jump from the minor leagues to the majors during the 2022 season, and his unconventional pregame routine bothered some of Boston's veteran players, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

Casas, who made his Red Sox debut in September, would sunbathe shirtless in Fenway Park's right field as part of a pregame routine he started in 2019 while still in the minors, according to Cotillo. The first baseman's routine also included taking naps in the clubhouse.

Veteran players "took issue" with Casas' routine and "voiced their displeasure" with it on several occasions, per Cotillo.

The 23-year-old addressed what he called "clashes" with Boston's veterans about how he should be acting in the majors:

"I would have been more concerned if they weren't saying anything to me. I felt like that would have meant they didn't feel like I was going to be [in the majors long]. I think the fact they were telling me stuff, the fact they were getting on me for the little things meant that they wanted me to go about things the right way. They wanted me to make sure that I'm going to carry on that tradition throughout the years when I stay up here."

While Casas drew the ire of some of his teammates, he also admitted that he's not going to completely overhaul his pregame routine entering the 2023 campaign. However, he's at least going to make some changes to draw less attention to himself.

"I couldn't just scratch everything and then try to build a new routine," Casas said. "So there were times where I had to compromise with my teammates and meet in the middle and see how I can incorporate things that I needed to do and things that they thought were disrespectful.

"I had a certain way of doing things. And I found out when I came here some of the things that I was doing just needed an adjustment in terms of the timing or the location."

The Red Sox had a rough 2022 season that saw them finish at the bottom of the American League East at 78-84, so Casas' peculiar pregame routine was the least of the club's problems.

Casas is projected to be Boston's Opening Day starter at first base after the franchise designated Eric Hosmer for assignment earlier this winter, though Justin Turner could also see time at the position.

Casas appeared in 27 games for the Red Sox last season and slashed .197/.358/.408 with five home runs and 12 RBI.

While the Red Sox aren't projected to be very competitive in 2023, there are high expectations for Casas, who must prove he's ready to handle full-time duties as Boston's leading first baseman after being ranked as the club's second-best prospect in 2022.

The Red Sox open Spring Training games on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves.