ATLANTA -- The struggling Red Sox now have another injury to deal with. And it sounds like this one is going to take a while.
Shortstop Trevor Story was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sports hernia before Saturday’s game against the Braves. In a corresponding move, the club recalled utility infielder Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester.
While Story had been dealing with discomfort since Spring Training, the team had been labeling it as a right groin injury. Recently, Story underwent scans that revealed a more serious sports hernia injury, one that could keep him out of action for several weeks.
“A couple of weeks in, I just felt it,” said Story. “I tried to grind through it and just got to the point where I might need to take a timeout and evaluate some things a little further. Obviously, I haven't been able to really move like myself out there; it kind of built up on me.”
Story has already received multiple opinions, and at least one doctor has presented surgery as an option. How long would that keep Story out?
“I don't know. I'm trying not to let my mind go there. But yeah, it's obviously different for each guy. But yeah, I think kind of the basic prognosis is six to 10 weeks, give or take,” said Story.
The early end of that timetable would have Story back with his team in early July. It’s unclear how long non-surgical treatment would keep Story off the field.
In Boston’s first game without Story on Saturday, Andruw Monasterio, who has been a key contributor as a utility player this season, made the start at short. Interim manager Chad Tracy also mentioned Sogard as an option. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has experience at short, but the Red Sox seem to prefer playing him at the corner infield spots and second base.
Then there is the most intriguing option: Marcelo Mayer.
The Sox selected Mayer as a shortstop with the No. 4 pick from the 2021 MLB Draft. In his promotion to the Major Leagues last season, Mayer mainly played third while also seeing action at second.
This season, he has been used exclusively as the team’s second baseman, starting against most right-handed pitchers. If Story’s injury is long-term, Mayer could well get the chance to move to short.
“I do think part of that depends on knowing what's happening with Trevor. Is this a three-week thing and he's going to be back quick? Or is this a longer thing?” Tracy said. “So we've kicked it around. But it’s definitely, No. 1, not something we're going to do right now, and [No.] 2, we can't just fire [Mayer] over there. If we were going to do that, we need to get some more [work]. He's taken no ground balls anywhere but second. So, again, let's see what's going on with Trevor, and then we'll dive deeper into that.”
Looking at an option for perhaps later in the season, or perhaps early next season, Franklin Arias, the organization's top prospect who's believed by many to be the team’s shortstop of the future, has been lighting it up for Double-A Portland. In 29 games and 106 at-bats, Arias has a line of .349/.431/.642 with eight homers and 23 RBIs. Arias, 20 and the No. 11 prospect in baseball, is considered a plus defender.
Story, Boston’s veteran leader, has been one of the several players on the club to have slumped for most of the season. In 41 games and 165 at-bats, Story has a batting line of .206/.244/.303 with three homers, 19 RBIs, eight walks and 57 strikeouts.
“I hate to [use an excuse],” said Story. “I'm not going to be blaming it all on that, but it plays a part, for sure. I think the main thing is getting it right, and I'm not so much worried about what has happened, and I’m more worried about problem-solving it and moving forward with the next steps, whatever that may be.”
Normally a sound defender throughout his career, Story leads American League shortstops with six errors. He is also at minus-three outs above average, tied for 27th in MLB at his position.
“If you're watching the game, I think you can tell that I’m not moving the way that I want, and that's frustrating. No one is 100 percent,” said Story. “But at this level, you have to have a certain amount of yourself to feel like yourself. And I think just recently, it's reared its head that that might not be the case.”
While Story stayed healthy last season and hit like he did during his years with the Rockies, he’s had injuries that have forced him to miss significant time in his other Boston seasons, starting with his arrival in 2022.
“It's not a situation like my shoulder, where that's like getting your head knocked off,” Story said. “So, definitely this is a more [manageable] situation, I think. But yeah, unfortunately, I’ve had experience with coming back, and whatever it takes, surgery or not, I'm going to kill the rehab and do my thing.”
Story joins Roman Anthony (right wrist sprain) and ace Garrett Crochet (left shoulder inflammation) as key players currently on the injured list for the 18-26 Red Sox.