Echoing what Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said on Friday, Alex Cora announced “there’s a good chance” Triston Casas will begin a rehab assignment next week.

The Red Sox first baseman is “progressing well” in his longer-than-expected journey back from what he’s described as a ‘freak’ injury. He originally went on the injured list on April 21 with a left-rib strain and torn cartilage, a unique injury for a baseball player.

Casas originally told the Herald he was on track to start swinging and hitting at the end of May, but it was over a month before he finally took that step. He’s currently hitting off the machine, but has yet to face live pitching.

“So far, so good” for Grissom in rehab assignment

Vaughn Grissom’s rehab assignment is progressing well.

“So far, so good,” Cora said of the second baseman, who’s been rehabbing with Triple-A for a week. “Actually he stole a base the other day.”

Grissom has been limited to 23 games in his first year with the club. He missed the entire spring training slate and the first 32 games of the regular season with a left-hamstring strain. After being activated on May 3, he suffered a right-hamstring strain on June 1.

Cora describes Grissom’s rehab as a combination of getting back to game-readiness, but also an opportunity to continue honing his skills.

“(He’s) just working on the things that we want him to work (on), as far as like, bat path, defensively, getting stronger,” the manager explained. “So I think with him, it’s more, it’s not about results. It’s about the process, and trying to get him in a position that he’s comfortable physically and with his swing, and then go from there.”

Hendriks will see doctor before taking next step

Liam Hendriks will see Dr. Keith Meister when the Red Sox travel to Texas next week for their first of two August series with the Rangers. Meister, the Rangers team physician and a renowned orthopedic surgeon, performed Hendriks’ Tommy John surgery last August, and Trevor Story’s internal brace elbow surgery in January 2023.

“He feels great,” Cora said of Hendriks, who has progressed to throwing bullpens, but told the Herald he’s itching to ramp up his timetable. “The bullpen has been, they’ve been good, so hopefully he can contribute this year.”