“It just grows the love of the game.” – A lucky fan has the catch of a lifetime Alex Westney plays catch with Triston Casas and Vaughn Grissom while the Red Sox infielders were on rehab assignments with the WooSox in 2024.
by Ryan Sheahan
Ahead of the Worcester Red Sox and Buffalo Bisons’ matchup on August 2, 2024, a father and son arrived early at Polar Park to watch the WooSox take batting practice. As they maneuvered their way towards the home on-deck circle, the WooSox’ grounds crew began running the tarp onto the field as a thunderstorm approached, cancelling the scheduled batting practice. Though they didn’t get to see the WooSox take BP, what happened next was far greater. A few weeks prior, Alex Westney, 12, bought his dad, Robert, tickets to sit up on the Worcester Wall for his birthday. The two traveled from Perkinsville, Vermont––a two-hour and fifteen-minute drive––to enjoy some quality time while taking in America’s pastime. “[Alex] loves baseball how I love baseball,” Robert said. “This is how we bond and stay close.” For Robert, it was already a great birthday present––getting the chance to make a memory with his son at a professional baseball game is just about all he could ask for. What made it even better was the timing of Triston Casas’ rehab assignment.
Robert and Alex Westney came to Polar Park from Perkinsville, VT on Aug. 2, 2024.
The Boston Red Sox first baseman happens to be Alex and Robert’s favorite player. During the Sox’ Winter Weekend in Springfield that previous January, the two met the former first rounder briefly during an autograph session. Casas took the time to chat with Alex for a few minutes––a small gesture, but one that made him a fan for life. As Alex and Robert hopped in the car on that Friday night last August and made their way to Worcester, they both donned Casas jerseys––with Alex wearing his brand-new white jersey. He also had a
blue Casas T-shirt and some other memorabilia, hoping to get a few autographs during the excursion.
Though they wanted to see Casas play, the Sox’ power hitter was still easing his way back from tearing the cartilage between his rib and sternum––an injury that had
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