Red Sox
“At this point, I firmly believe he will be a part of it.”
Three weeks ago, Trevor Story said he hoped to play again in 2024. Now it sounds like it’s a question of “when” and not “if” he will compete. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Trevor Story said three weeks ago that he hoped to play for the Red Sox again in 2024 after his season appeared to end on April 5 when he dislocated his left shoulder. On Friday, manager Alex Cora said he was fully confident that the shortstop would play for Boston down the stretch.
Cora said Story will take part in batting practice at Fenway Park on Monday, a sign that the 31-year-old is making progress in his recovery.
“It’s a huge step. It’s huge,” Cora said, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive. “As we are now, I really believe he’s going to be there. I just don’t want to give you a timeline or anything like that because I don’t want to put pressure on him. But he’s putting pressure on us, and that’s the great thing about it.”
Story underwent surgery shortly after he was injured while diving for a ground ball in Boston’s second series of the season in Anaheim, at which point his injury was considered season-ending.
In Story’s absence, the Red Sox have had continued success with several other players who could fill his position at shortstop: Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton, Ceddanne Rafaela and Nick Sogard. Still, both Boston and Story seem eager for the player to reclaim his place in the lineup and on the field.
“He can play defensively tomorrow at the number nine position,” Cora said. “He’s talked about getting a little bit stronger, the reps, the volume and all that stuff. Hitting different forms of fastballs and breaking balls. I think that’s a big step.”
When the Red Sox played the Dodgers in Los Angeles on the weekend of July 18, Story entered the locker room and stated that his goal was to play again this year, but at the time he wasn’t sure he would achieve that goal.
Less than a month later, Story reiterated Cora’s positive feelings about his recovery while speaking to reporters.
“I feel good with the shoulder,” Story said on the field before Boston’s game against the Houston Astros on Friday. “It’s going well. We’ve been working behind the scenes and keeping expectations low, and I think that’s helped us so my body can recover and bounce back from the beating in the cage. Like I’ve always said, if I get a chance to play, I’m going to take it.”
“Honestly, I didn’t expect (my recovery) to go this well,” Story added. “Just because I know how bad it was at the beginning of the rehab process. But I really think my body has turned it around. Mentally too – my mind trusts my body more than ever. Of course, I’m not 100 percent yet, but I’ve made a lot of progress. It’s more of a normal shoulder development now and I feel pretty good about it.”
Given Cora and Story’s comments, it doesn’t sound unrealistic that Boston would get one of its veterans back as the team fights for a playoff spot. The Red Sox are a young team; it can’t hurt to have Story back on the field and stabilize the infield as they try to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021.
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