Trevor Story has been gutting through pain since spring training. The Red Sox finally pulled the plug.
Boston placed Story on the 10-day injured list with a sports hernia. The shortstop told reporters he has been dealing with lower-body discomfort since partway through Spring Training, and surgery is now being considered as a treatment option. If he goes the surgical route, the recovery would keep him out for roughly 6 to 10 weeks, which would push his return into deep summer.
This is the kind of injury that sneaks up on a team. Story did not have a dramatic moment that landed him on the IL. He just kept playing through it, doing his job, and assuming the pain would manage itself. It did not. The longer he played through it, the more compensatory issues started to develop. Eventually the team decided that pushing him further was not in anyone’s best interest.
Sports hernias are not always simple to treat. The conservative path is rest and rehab, which can take weeks and does not always work. The surgical path is more definitive but requires a longer recovery window. The Red Sox medical staff has to weigh the risk-reward of each, and Story himself has a vote in the conversation.
The on-field impact is significant. Story is a veteran shortstop with offensive upside. He has been a key part of the Red Sox infield since signing with the team. Losing him for an extended stretch puts pressure on the depth chart at a position where Boston is not particularly deep.
The Red Sox will need to find a path forward. The internal options at shortstop include some younger players who can defend but have not produced offensively at the major league level. The team could look to the trade market, but it is early in the season and the prices for shortstops are typically high. The most likely path is a committee approach until Story returns or a clearer answer emerges.
This injury also raises a familiar question about Story’s career arc. He has had multiple injury issues since signing with Boston. The talent is still there when he is healthy. The availability has been the problem. For a team trying to compete in the AL East, having a top-of-the-order shortstop you cannot count on for 140 games is a recurring planning challenge.
The Red Sox are in a tough spot in the standings. The Yankees and Orioles are both ahead of them. The Rays are right there. The AL East is the toughest division in baseball, and there is no margin for error. Losing a starter for two months in May makes a tough situation tougher.
Manager Alex Cora has been creative with his lineup all year. He will need to be more creative now. The bench has some flexibility. The minor league system has some intriguing names. The path forward is going to involve a lot of moving parts.
For Story, the decision on surgery is the immediate priority. The conservative route gets him back sooner but with the risk of a recurrence. The surgical route ends the issue but costs him a chunk of the season. There is no easy answer.
The Red Sox front office has to think about what this means for the bigger picture. The team has been built around contention. The injuries have piled up. The trade deadline is two months away, and the front office will need to decide whether to add or stand pat. Story’s timeline will be a factor in that decision.
The next update on Story will be the one that matters. Surgery or no surgery. Six weeks or ten. The Red Sox season hangs in the balance of a decision that should be made soon.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
