Trevor Story set to begin rehab assignment this weekend with Portland
The Red Sox skipper Alex Cora announced Trevor Story will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland this coming week. Story will play shortstop Friday, then DH Saturday, and play shortstop again Sunday.
“He feels ready,” Cora said. “This is more about him than anything else.”
Story is rehabbing back from internal brace surgery on his right elbow. He has spent time down in Fort Myers rehabbing at the team’s spring training complex before traveling back to Boston.
While working out at Fenway Park, the 30-year-old has taken grounds and batting practice on the field. Story took live batting practice against Corey Kluber. The veteran is also on the injured list dealing with right shoulder inflammation.
“We’re not cutting corners on the rehab. We just feel like right now is the time to go and let’s see how long it takes,” Cora said pregame to NESN’s Mike Monaco and Jahmai Webster in Oakland.
“It’s not a one week thing. We want him to get his feet under him and bounce back after nine innings. This is just the beginning but it feels good knowing he’s going to go out and play on Friday,” added Cora.
It’s still unclear how long Story will be down in the minors before making his 2023 season debut. MLB rules dictate that position players must not spend more than 20 days on rehab assignments. Story could join Triple-A Worcester next week when the WooSox return home.
“Realistically, I see myself playing in the big leagues in August,” Story said to reporters last week. “To shoot around mid-August would be great. Obviously this is a live thing so you can’t live and die by the timeline. But yeah, I think go on a rehab assignment, get some at-bats, get my timing underneath me and spend as long as I need down there to feel good enough to come back.”
This weekend will mark the first time Story has played in a game since Sept. 11 of last season. He injured his heel against the Orioles and would miss the remainder of the season.
The Sox had considered bringing Story back as a designated hitter but it appears they’ve scraped those plans. Due to the Sox surplus of position players, they won’t be able to utilize the former All-Star in that role.
Boston will need to make crucial roster decisions once Story is ready to be activated off the IL. Chang is expected to shift into more of a utility role leaving Christian Arroyo, Kiké Hernández and Pablo Reyes as trade or DFA candidates.
The Sox will welcome Story back defensively with open arms, as the revolving door of shortstops have all struggled playing the position.
Hernández has made 15 errors this season, 14 at shortstop and one at second base. Chang also made a crucial error in second inning, Cora said postgame his infielder “rushed” to make the play.
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