BOSTON -- With Triple-A Worcester off on Monday, Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story checked back into Fenway Park a day after opening his Minor League rehab assignment by going 1-for-2 and playing four innings at shortstop.
What’s next for the veteran, who is coming back from sports hernia surgery?
“I mean, at least the Tuesday-Wednesday games [for Worcester],” said Story. “So I'll be in Syracuse, and then we'll see how I feel after that. Obviously, we have a Thursday off-day here … we'll see how it goes.”
Story is expected to play between seven to nine innings in those two games. Could Story be activated by this weekend’s series at home against the Giants?
“Yeah, it's a possibility,” said Story.
The Red Sox are taking a more day-by-day approach to see how he feels coming out of each game. Story last played for Boston on May 14.
Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy didn’t rule in or rule out the possibility that Story could come back this weekend.
“It’s possible,” Tracy said. “But to be perfectly honest with you, we haven't discussed that yet. The initial part is, he obviously did a ton of work here as far as building himself up [before the rehab assignment], but we're really just eyeballing Tuesday and Wednesday. Let’s get through that, have him play seven to nine innings, see how his legs feel. ‘How is this thing responding? How does his swing feel?’ And then we'll go from there and see. We haven't gotten deep into those conversations.”
While Story struggled mightily at the plate and in the field in 41 games before going on the IL, the fact he was playing hurt during most of that time is certainly being taken into consideration.
Though Andruw Monasterio has been raking lately while holding down shortstop, a healthy Story is likely to get the chance to get his job back when he returns.
“I think that's the goal, that we get him right and get him healthy and get him out there,” said Tracy. “To have him out there helping us. So, we'll see when that is. But I think that's the goal.”
To keep Monasterio’s bat in the lineup when Story returns, he could play second base or roam all over the infield.
As for Story, he is thrilled to be back in action.
“Yeah, it felt good [on Sunday],” Story said. “Good to get that first one out of the way. So it's all about game-speed stuff now, and getting my game legs back under me, and obviously seeing some pitches and having some good at-bats. So I'm excited about that. The first one went well.”
Story is confident he will know when the time is right for him to return to Boston's lineup.
“I've had my fair share of rehabs, and I've been through it, so I feel like I know when I'm good to go. So I have that in my back pocket and I have that experience to rely on,” Story said. “And like I said, it's really about getting my game legs back and how I recover the next day. Not so much the stuff that's going on in the moment.”
Because Story has had his share of injury-plagued seasons in Boston, perhaps it’s too easy to forget last season, when he belted 25 homers to go with 96 RBIs. Does Story think he can get back to that level down the stretch?
“Yeah, very confident. That's the whole point of getting the surgery and coming back, to be at full strength,” said Story. “It was tough there in the beginning of this year and I battled through it. But I'm looking forward to going out there and doing some things more like last year for sure.”
Roman Anthony, who should be another key addition for the Sox once he gets back, opens his Minor League rehab assignment for Double-A Portland on Tuesday.
One area he can certainly offer help is in the leadoff spot, where the Red Sox have struggled to get production all season. It’s unclear if Tracy would hit Anthony first as soon as he returns.
“If he's Roman, he can impact [us] in a very big way [at leadoff],” said Tracy. “And you guys have seen him, when he's at his best and even when he's not. I made comments all the time about him in Worcester … like even when Roman's not at his best, he finds his way to first base because he's got a really keen eye and plate. He understands what’s a strike and what's a ball. So if he's feeling good, he can make a significant impact. “