Red Sox’ Trevor Story Productive Following Three Injury-Filled Seasons

Trevor Story has solid statistics through the first month of the season.

The Boston Red Sox shortstop is especially happy with one statistic. It might not help someone win a fantasy baseball league, but it is meaningful to the 32-year-old.

Story has played in 30 of the Red Sox’s 32 games, starting 28 times. It is a significant figure for someone who has many long stretches on the injured list since signing with the Red Sox as a free agent in 2022 during the final days of spring training.

Story played in 94 games in ’22, 43 games in 2023 and 26 in 2024. He hasn’t provided much return on investment on his six-year, $140-million contract.

However, Story is hoping this is the year he returns to the form he showed while making two All-Star Game appearances and winning two National League Silver Sluggers during the first six seasons of his career from 2016-21 with the Colorado Rockies.

“I have standards that I’ve set for myself during my career,” Story said. “I signed to come over here and win and play well. But the injuries have piled up and when I’ve been playing, it hasn’t been up to my standards, so this year has been a good start. It’s what I expect out of myself.”

Trevor Story Off To Good Start in 2025

Story is hitting .272/.314/.421 with five home runs and six stolen bases. He has also played solid defense.

In 192 games with the Red Sox over four seasons, Story has a .238/.298/.401 slash line. Conversely, he batted .272/.340/.532 in six seasons and 745 games with the Rockies.

Part of Story’s offensive success came from playing his home games for the Rockies at mile-high altitude. His career OPS at Coors Field is .972 and .792 at Boston’s Fenway Park.

However, the Red Sox felt thought were getting a quality player when they signed Story and manager Alex Cora does not feel that assessment has changed.

“I truly believe superstars have three long stretches during the season, and then the other ones are OK and sometimes they struggles,” Cora said. “I’m hopeful we can get those three long stretches of Trevor being an elite hitter and carrying the offense for a while. “The baserunning is elite and the defense is excellent. It’s fun to watch.”

Now, it’s a matter of keeping a productive Story on the field.

“My job is to keep him healthy,” Cora said. “Obviously he hasn’t played that much the last few years, so we got to be careful with that. But he’s eager to play. He wants to play, which is awesome.”

Trevor Story Wants To Make Up Lost Time

Story wants to make up for lost time. The Red Sox have played 516 games since signing Story and he has appeared in just 192, which is 37.2%.

Story has a $22,5-million salary this season has two years and $50 million remaining on his contract after that. The Red Sox hold a $25-million option for 2028 that includes a $5-million buyout.

The Red Sox have not had a winning season since Story’s arrival, though they are 16-14 this season and expected to be contenders, especially after signing third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120-million contract in March.

Story has also helped the Red Sox overcome a tepid start by designated hitter Rafael Devers.

Among Story’s injuries have been a broken bone in his left shoulder, a torn ligament in his right elbow that required Tommy John reconstructive surgery, a bruised left hand and a bruised right hand.

“I feel like I’ve played pretty good so far,” Story said. “There’s a little bit more consistency that I’m looking for and I think part of that comes from not playing regularly very much the last three. I’m still getting into that groove of playing every day. I’d like to take what I’ve done so far and continue to build on it.

“The thing about baseball is that you’ve got to concentrate on today, you can’t look to far ahead or too far behind,” Trevor Story added. I know it sounds cliché but it’s true. That’s what you have to do because, as I’ve found out, you never know what can happen.”