When the Boston Red Sox announced in April that shortstop Trevor Story would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, it was assumed that his season would be, well, over. But manager Alex Cora shared a shocking detail in his injury update roundup last week that could change everything: Story was scheduled to take part in batting practice the following week.
Story dislocated his left shoulder in early April when he dove to block a hit from Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout. He subsequently underwent surgery to repair the fractured shoulder socket, which was expected to keep him out of action for six months. The fact that he was able to return to batting practice just four months later was a significant – if unexpected – step in his recovery.
The 31-year-old took batting practice and caught ground balls at shortstop before the Red Sox’s opener against the Texas Rangers on Monday at Fenway Park. According to NESN.com, Story felt “good” after the workout and was particularly pleased with the power of his bat despite minimal effort.
Story’s progress in his recovery is certainly a positive development in what has otherwise been a brutal season for the Red Sox in terms of injuries, but it raises the question: Will his potential comeback even matter this season?
Trevor Story’s batting practice: In his first on-field batting practice since his injury in April, he just hit a ball into the first row of center field stands. pic.twitter.com/qa1dSn4Q2v
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) 12 August 2024
The Red Sox are fighting for their playoff spot and still have a wild card berth within reach, but the next two weeks will be crucial. Thursday’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles kicks off a 10-game Red Sox series against teams currently in contention for a playoff spot.
Not only that, but how will he fit in? The Red Sox have a pretty crowded center field, with Ceddanne Rafaela, David Hamilton, Nick Sogard, Enmanuel Valdez and Romy Gonzalez all in action right now. Don’t forget, Vaughn Grissom is at Triple-A. The Red Sox have made it clear that they are prioritizing their young talent, and it’s unclear if that means Story will be left out after he put in three incomplete seasons for the team after signing his six-year deal.
Numerous other injuries continue to plague the Red Sox roster, making it even more difficult for them to make up ground in the standings during a difficult stretch of the season. Cora is hesitant to put a timetable on Story’s return to action, but if he’s already involved in baseball activities by mid-August, there’s a good chance he’ll be fit before the end of September.
It just depends on how Craig Breslow and management assess his potential contribution after they discover a successful formula to replace the veteran.
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