It’s barely been 5 months since Trevor Story threw himself at a Mike Trout grounder that ended up costing him a fracture of the glenoid rim in his left shoulder and a torn labrum. In the following days, he was visibly emotional about losing another year to injuries, especially since 2024 was supposed to be a bounce back campaign following an internal brace procedure on his throwing elbow the previous winter. Against all odds, he’s found a way to return to the Red Sox for the final 21 games of the season when not a single person had that expectation.
I don’t care where you stand on Story’s tenure in Boston or him as a player. There’s no denying the type of aggressive rehabbing he had to do for this to even be a possibility. That’s the type of mindset you hope catches like a wildfire in your clubhouse with a young core that’s still growing.
Say what you will about the ups and downs of the Red Sox season, there was nobody ever viewing them as World Series contenders. Story could’ve kicked the can down the road and ruled a return in 2025 as the best thing for himself moving forward. Instead, after only 4 rehab games where he went 6-for-16 and looked comfortable at shortstop, he wants to try and save a sinking ship.
Some paint Story as this thief who’s laughing his way to the bank after failing to meet the expectations of his 6 year, $140 MM deal. Others remain hopeful that we haven’t seen the best version of him yet, especially with the Red Sox badly needing an impact right-handed bat and an elite defender in the infield. That first narrative was built after he needed a lengthy rehab assignment roughly a year ago, which proved to be true as he posted a 56 OPS+ down the stretch.
