The Boston Red Sox are getting much-needed support in their lineup, as shortstop Trevor Story is making his season debut today.
The 30-year-old underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in January.
The power-hitting shortstop missed just 60 games in five years for the Colorado Rockies, then sat for 68 games in his first season with the Red Sox.
Story lit up the league during his inaugural season in Denver, breaking records immediately. He hit seven home runs in his first six games to start the 2016 season, a feat no one had accomplished.
During his six seasons in Colorado, Story gathered two All-Star game nods, two silver sluggers and was in the backend of MVP talks in three straight seasons.
Boston signed the shortstop to a six-year $140 million deal in the 2022 offseason. In 94 games, Story hit .238 with 16 home runs and 66 RBI. His OPS+ stayed at the league average (100) through his down year. The Red Sox went 51-43 with Story and 27-41 without him in ‘22.
In 13 games in the minors, Story hit .300 with four home runs, four doubles, nine RBI, and a 1.117 OPS. He will join a Red Sox team looking for the spark the Trade Deadline didn’t give them.
Along with another bat in the lineup, the desperate pitching staff is finally receiving some support. Seasoned veteran Chris Sale, who has been out since June 1st with a shoulder injury, is likely to pitch on Friday against the Detroit Tigers. Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck are reportedly nearing the end of their rehab assignments and should be back in the Bean soon.
Boston is currently in fourth place in the heated AL East. Four games above .500 is not nearly enough in the best division in baseball. After getting swept horrifically by the Blue Jays, the Red Sox are 3-7 in their last ten games and five games out of the final wild card spot, sandwiched above the Yankees and below the Mariners.
Although the reinforcements should bring new life to the team, the ugly series sweep from the Blue Jays might have been the final nail in the coffin for the 2023 Red Sox. The Blue Jays hold the final wild card spot with no signs of giving it up. Fangraphs gives the Red Sox a 12.7% chance of making the playoffs.
