ATLANTA -- The struggling Red Sox now have another injury to deal with. Shortstop Trevor Story was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sports hernia prior to Saturday’s game against the Braves.
In a corresponding move, the club recalled utility infielder Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester.
Story, Boston’s veteran leader, has been one of the several players on the club to have slumped for most of the season.
Interim manager Chad Tracy had mentioned Story playing through groin discomfort multiple times recently when mentioning why the right-handed hitter was not in the lineup, including Friday’s 3-2 loss in 10 innings.
It is believed Story has dealt with the injury for at least a couple of weeks.
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.
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.
It will be interesting to see how Tracy deploys the shortstop position in Story’s absence. Veteran Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Andruw Monasterio and Sogard all have experience at the position. So, too, does Marcelo Mayer, the team’s No. 4 pick from the 2021 MLB Draft. However, it seems unlikely the Sox would temporarily move Mayer back to his natural position. Monasterio got the start at shortstop for Saturday's game.
Looking at an option for perhaps later in the 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 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.