FORT MYERS, Fla. — When the Crimson Sox drafted Conrad Cason out of highschool in 2024, they believed the Atlanta-area standout may need what it takes to grow to be a uncommon two-way participant in skilled baseball.
That dream could but grow to be a actuality, however for now it has been delayed.
After showing in simply two video games of rookie ball in his first full season as knowledgeable, Cason was sidelined attributable to a proper elbow problem that finally required Tommy John surgical procedure. That process came about in August, all however eliminating any likelihood Cason might take the mound in a aggressive recreation this yr.
Fortuitously the restoration timeline for place gamers is shorter, so Cason received’t have to attend an excessive amount of longer to select up the place he left off.
“It (stunk) however we acquired by means of it and in search of the times after and it’s going effectively up to now this spring,” Cason stated this week in Fort Myers. “I’m excited to get again on the sphere with the fellows and begin enjoying once more.”
Cason stated the harm that derailed his first yr as knowledgeable didn’t occur in any particular recreation and was one thing that progressively acquired worse over time. Now six months out from surgical procedure, Cason stated he’s proper on schedule in his rehab and is feeling nice.
“Just about doing all the things in addition to throwing off the mound proper now,” Cason stated. “I’m hitting in (stay batting apply), fielding with the teams and throwing throughout the infield, doing base working and all that enjoyable stuff, so I’m just about doing all the things apart from throwing off the mound.”
Initially chosen within the eighth-round of the 2024 MLB Draft and signed to an over-slot $1.25 million bonus that ranked third highest in his Crimson Sox draft class, Cason got here to the group searching for to grow to be the primary fashionable two-way participant in Crimson Sox historical past.
A pure athlete, Cason possessed a singular mixture of energy and velocity together with some spectacular vary and, clearly, a cannon of an arm. Previous to his harm, the right-hander boasted a fastball that might contact 97 mph, together with some high-upside secondary choices.
Nonetheless solely 19 years outdated, Cason ranks as Boston’s No. 30 prospect in accordance with MLB Pipeline’s newest rankings. He’ll almost certainly debut with the Low-A Salem RidgeYaks in some unspecified time in the future this yr, although Crimson Sox senior director of participant improvement Brian Abraham indicated he won’t be prepared for Opening Day.
“Onerous to say if he’ll be prepared for Opening Day as a result of the throwing piece is necessary, we’re not going to hurry him only for the beginning of the season,” Abraham stated. “I undoubtedly count on him to be enjoying for a full-season membership in some unspecified time in the future however I do not know if will probably be the beginning.”
Between spring coaching, prolonged spring, his temporary stint within the Florida Complicated League and subsequent harm rehab, Cason spent his total first skilled season in Fort Myers. Whereas his season was restricted to a two-inning outing and 4 at bats as a delegated hitter, Cason stated he is nonetheless gotten lots out of his expertise up to now.
For one, he is gotten lots greater, gaining 24 kilos since he was drafted to deliver himself as much as 214. On prime of that, he is additionally had an opportunity to attach with quite a lot of large leaguers who’ve come by means of Fort Myers on their very own rehab assignments.
“I wouldn’t say final yr was a loss,” Cason stated. “As a result of studying from the handful of massive league guys that have been down right here and having the ability to speak to them and work out with them and decide their brains each single day, I realized lots outdoors of enjoying baseball.”
One such large leaguer was Kutter Crawford, who missed all of final season with a sequence of knee and wrist accidents and beforehand underwent Tommy John surgical procedure himself earlier in his profession. Crawford stated Cason made impression and he is excited to see what he might do down the highway.
“He is an important child,” Crawford stated. “He is gifted and he is a type of particular athletes that he’ll be enjoyable to observe as he continues to mature and develop.”
The plain query for Cason as soon as he completes his restoration is whether or not or not he’ll stay a two-way participant. Requested this week, Cason indicated that’s nonetheless the plan however that there are a few targets he must hit earlier than they will resolve on his finest path ahead.
“Yeah, you recognize, it’s nonetheless within the talks and nonetheless within the works,” Cason stated. “All of it is determined by what occurs with the rehab course of and we’ll see the place issues go from there.”
Both manner, whether or not it is as a shortstop this yr or another function subsequent yr, Cason hopes it will not be lengthy earlier than he lastly has an opportunity to don a Crimson Sox uniform and present followers what he can do.
“I believe the most important factor is that I’m able to play for the Crimson Sox followers throughout the nation and all of the associates,” Cason stated. “I’m trying ahead to placing on a wholesome yr and enjoying for them.”
