It will take some time before Triston Casas starts rehabilitation

Triston Casas has been sidelined since April 21. *Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff*

Triston Casas had hoped to return to the Red Sox lineup in early July, but he remains on the injured list and is likely to remain there for a while.

Alex Cora said the injured first baseman is “still a long way” from making a return and starting his rehabilitation.

“It’s going to be a while,” the Red Sox manager told reporters about when Casas could begin his rehabilitation.

Casas has been out since April 21, when he tore cartilage in his rib cage while swinging during a game against the Pirates. The Red Sox feared Casas would be sidelined for some time after the injury, placing him on the 60-day injured list, though the team would not give a timetable for his return.

Meanwhile, Casas began circling possible return dates after a month on the injured list. He initially mentioned a late June date to return, but then pushed it back to July 2, when the Red Sox began a three-game series in Miami.

Of course, Casas wasn’t on the field for that series against the Marlins. He still has some work to do, though. He’s hitting off a tee and taking soft toss swings.

Casas has told others he feels close to 100 percent, Cora shared. But he hasn’t pitched live or taken batting practice, two necessary steps for a return, and he’s still feeling some soreness on his side.

Cora wouldn’t say how long the Red Sox will be without Casas, but they do expect him to return sometime this season.

“I just spoke to the players and we’re going to lock in today,” Cora said. “The other things are out of our control. Of course, we have to know where players are physically. But to think about 12 or 15 days, that’s not the way we do it. I (have to) be consistent with the message. And that’s what we’re going to try to do.

“I have a feeling he’s going to be a part of this. When? We don’t know yet.”

The Red Sox struggled to replace Casas’ production in the first base lineup for several weeks following his injury. Garrett Cooper and Dom Smith were brought in to share duties, with the former struggling to the point that he was designated for assignment in June.

Smith has been a bit better of late, hitting .316 with a .934 OPS, two homers and six RBIs in 13 games in July. Romy Gonzalez has also contributed at first base recently, with a couple of big hits in the eight games he has played at first base.

But neither compares to Casas. It was around this time last year that Casas was emerging as one of the best hitters in baseball, closing out the 2023 season on a strong note. He’s batting .289 with a .952 OPS, 18 homers and 43 RBIs in his last 70 games.

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