BOSTON – Amid an eventful Trade Deadline for the Red Sox that landed a three-time All-Star catcher in Adley Rutschman while also adding a power lefty reliever (Erik Miller) and an athletic backup outfielder (Eli White), chief baseball officer Craig Breslow wound up not finding a match for a shortstop.
For Trevor Story, who hasn’t played since May 14 due to a sports hernia injury that required surgery, that provides him with even more motivation to be ready to answer the bell when he returns.
Story said it’s not out of the question he could start a Minor League rehab assignment within the next week or two. That could position him for a September return – just in time to influence a postseason race the Red Sox are now right in the middle of.
It could have been awkward for Story upon his return to action had the Sox acquired another established player at the position he has played for all but one season of his career.
“There was a lot of speculation for sure, and I saw it, but that's the business side of ball, and I can't really control that, especially when I'm not playing,” Story said. “And it unfolded how it did, and obviously I'm happy about that, and excited to get back in there and be a part of this and contribute how I know I can to this incredible turnaround.”
The Red Sox slumped with Story playing hampered, and they continued to for more than five weeks after he exited the lineup.
But then came a surge that started on June 25 and hasn’t really stopped. Boston sported a 29-5 mark during that, as Story called it, “incredible turnaround,” entering Wednesday’s game against the White Sox.
Was Story irritated about seeing all the rumors about the Red Sox looking for a shortstop?
“I mean, I see them,” said Story. “Yeah, I wouldn't say irritated, but I kept note.”
Story knows what it’s like to be written off.
Injuries limited him to 43 games in ‘23 and a career-low 26 in ‘24. Then he had a brutal May last season, leading to whispers he could be designated for assignment, despite having a contract that expires at the end of the ‘27 season.
But everyone knows what happened from June on in ‘25. Story rose from the proverbial ashes and had his best season with the Red Sox, playing in 157 games and compiling 29 doubles, 25 homers, 96 RBIs and stealing 31 bases while getting caught just once.
“I know what [I] did last year, and I know the performance last year is more of who I was, and obviously, I haven't shown much of that this year, but I’m happy to just keep the injury behind me and come back being more [like] the player that I know I can be. I'm happy the way [the Trade Deadline] unfolded, and I’m just pumped to be a part of this club.”
There has been a revolving door at shortstop this season for the Red Sox since Story went on the injured list. First, Marcelo Mayer moved over from second base, but he was injured on June 24 and traded to the Giants for Miller on Monday. Tsung-Che Cheng got a shot there for a bit and played outstanding defense but didn’t offer much offense. He was recently optioned to Triple-A Worcester. In recent weeks, the Sox have rode Andruw Monasterio’s hot bat at shortstop, but he made three errors in a four-game series in West Sacramento last week and is probably best employed as a utility infielder.
Perhaps Story’s return will come at just the right time.
“It's going well, the body’s feeling good, responding well to running and doing the things that bothered me before,” said Story. “So it's close, man. Like I said, August is still in play [for a rehab assignment]. We're still going week by week, and I feel really good about making that happen.”
Story started feeling the effects of the injury as far back as Spring Training, but thought it was just a groin injury.
He did what competitors do and kept playing. Story paid for it though, looking unlike himself on both sides of the ball.
At the plate, he slashed .206/.244/.303 in 41 games and 176 plate appearances, producing three homers and 19 RBIs while walking eight times to go with 57 strikeouts.
“I mean, yeah, to a certain extent for sure,” said Story, when asked if the injury impacted his numbers. “There's just the competitor in you sometimes and obviously that's why we're at this level. That’s my best attribute, and I felt I can play at whatever percent but there comes a certain point where you might be hurting the team, and that was a tough one to come to. And I felt like I just couldn't do the simple things without pain.”
If Story can return in time to help the Red Sox solidify their spot in October, that will make that April and May pain feel like a distant memory.