When the Boston Red Sox lost first baseman Triston Casas to a ruptured left patellar tendon in May, it set up a chain of events that lead to the team platooning Romy González and Abraham Toro at the position, and influencing the trade of former franchise cornerstone Rafael Devers.
That being said, Red Sox manager Alex Cora has seemed to find the right combination with González and Toro. But questions remain regarding the duo’s ability to remain productive over the long haul, and that has invited speculation from baseball insiders that the Red Sox will be active at the trade deadline next month.
While upgrading the position via trade remains a strong possibility, one of the team’s former top prospects is having a career year down at the minor league levels.
When the Red Sox selected Blaze Jordan out of high school in the third round of the 2020 draft, the team was certainly intrigued by his raw power and ability to play at both corner infield spots. Jordan was on a solid trajectory through the Red Sox farm system before poor production and a battle with anxiety affected his play on the field.
Now 22, things have started to come together for the young slugger this year. Beginning his season with Double-A Portland, Jordan hit .320 with six home runs and 37 RBI before earning a promotion to Triple-A Worcester on June 3.
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In 16 games since joining Worcester, Jordan has continued his assault on minor league pitching by hitting .348 with two home runs, eight doubles, and 12 RBI in 66 at-bats.
Jordan was the offensive star in Worcester’s 7-1 victory over Buffalo on Friday. Batting third and earning the start at first base, he drove in his first run of the day with a single in third inning to give the WooSox a 2-1 lead.
Returning to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, he connected on a 92.9 mph sinker to left field for a two-run RBI triple. Worcester would add another run in the inning and take a 7-1 lead, and that was more than enough for the WooSox to earn a victory.
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With Boston’s first base situation unsettled, it remains possible that Jordan could get a look later this season as the next man up if injuries were to sideline a member of the team’s 26-man roster. Either way, Jordan’s resurgence this season is one of the more interesting story lines to follow now that the Big Three have all made their big league debuts.
