If it’s spring, it must be time for the Red Sox to paint a rosy picture of the health and ability of shortstop Trevor Story, the team’s slugging shortstop who has managed to appear in just 163 games in three eyars in Boston.
The good news for the Red Sox is they’ve assembled what should be a Story-proof lineup, an offense that can be productive, even if Story suffers a devastating injury, as he has done throughout his three years in Boston. The Red Sox added Alex Bregman to pair with Rafael Devers, expect to have first baseman Triston Casas back and healthy and could have outfielder Roman Anthony, the top prospect in baseball, in the lineup later this summer.
But a return to form from Story, who hit 158 home runs in six years with Colorado before joining the Red Sox, would be a bonus that could make Boston a legitimate AL powerhouse. The Red Sox badly need right-handed power, which is why they signed Bregman, but Story could amplify that.
Now, Story is off to a strong start this spring, hitting two homers and batting .476 in seven games. When asked by former MLB GM Jim Bowden for a player who has stood out, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow offered some good news: He picked Story.
Bowden wrote: “He has dealt with injuries ever since he signed with the Red Sox before the 2022 season. He’s currently healthy and they’re expecting big things from him.”
And Breslow told Bowden: “Story is back to full strength and looks like he is pairing his strong defensive skills with improved bat speed and approach. Excited about what a healthy Trevor Story can provide to our club.”
Story has, indeed, looked good so far. But then, he looked good last spring, too. A productive return to the lineup would be welcome, but there’s good reason to be cautious.
