Heritage 1B Casas picked by Sox
American Heritage first baseman and University of Miami signee Triston Casas was drafted by the Boston Red Sox with the No. 26 pick of the MLB draft on Monday night.
Casas heard his name called by commissioner Rob Manfred in the MLB Network’s Studio in Secaucus, New Jersey as one of only six prospects in attendance, along with North Broward Prep shortstop and former youth teammate Xavier Edwards.
The 6-foot-4, power-hitting lefty bat who can play either corner infield position will receive a significant signing bonus if he inks a pro deal. The slot value where he was selected is $2,552,800.
Casas’ father, Jose Casas, told the Sun Sentinel before the draft he would be happy to have Triston go to UM should they decide not to sign now. Out of high school prospects selected in the first round, however, only seven since 2009 have opted for college before professional baseball.
The pick wrapped up a hectic two weeks of travel for Casas after his Patriots were eliminated in regional finals on May 22. He was in Kansas City on Wednesday, back in Miami for a Thursday workout with the Marlins and worked out with Red Sox on Friday. A week from Friday he was in Tampa Bay, and earlier Monday, he visited Yankee Stadium.
Spending three years in high school due to an accelerated homeschooling program, Casas was a Sun Sentinel first-team All-County selection in Broward County all three seasons. This year, he slashed .387/.551/.880, hit seven home runs, drove in 34 runs, leading all of Broward County in walks (27).
Edwards, another Broward high school prospect at the draft, and Casas were former youth teammates. They were sitting next to each other at the MLB Network’s studios.
The first area product to get taken in the draft was American Heritage-Delray grad Jonathan India, going fifth to the Cincinnati Reds.
Edwards was waiting to get drafted at press time.
Manfred introduced the six prospects in attendance before the draft began, and when calling out Edwards, noted, “He’s got a big group here.”
Edwards told the Sun Sentinel before the draft that he would use all 30 of the invitations allotted to him, having a lot of family in the New York/New Jersey area, where he’s originally from before moving to Wellington when he was 5 years old.
A consummate leadoff hitter, Edwards hit .406 and was on base at a .532 clip as a senior for the Eagles in leading them to regional finals. He scored a Broward County-best 43 runs, drove in 16 and stole 24 bases.
Edwards transferred to North Broward before his junior season. He originally went Trinity Christian in Lake Worth, where he won a Class 2A state title as a sophomore.
dfurones@sunsentinel.com / @DavidFurones_