FORT MYERS, Fla. — If the Red Sox had to identify one position player critical to their success this year, it wouldn’t be hard for them to settle on Trevor Story.
If Story can regain the offensive form he showed in Colorado, the Red Sox’ lineup will be that much more formidable. After failing to add another right-handed bat in the offseason to makeup for the loss of Justin Turner, the Red Sox have settled on Story to hit between Rafael Devers and Triston Casas.
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The lefty-leaning lineup needs balance, and Devers and Casas need protection. Story may just be able to provide both.
On Sunday, Story hit a towering three-run homer in the first inning, then later in the same inning, cracked a double as part of a nine-run first for the Red Sox. For the spring, he’s slashing .324/.410/.718.
“The results are the results,” said manager Alex Cora. “But I think the quality of the at-bats is real. The walks are up, and he’s hunting for his pitch. Obviously, hitting the ball in the air to the pull side is good, but he’s controlling the strike zone, which is good.”
This month, Story is catching up to quality fastballs, driving the ball consistently and making more regular contact — all things he failed to do in his truncated season of a year ago.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” acknowledged Story after the Red Sox blasted the Yankees at jetBlue Park. “The consistency of the at-bats are pretty good. That’s kind of what I look for to see if I’m ready for the season. So that’s been a good sign. I feel like I’m getting my swing off on breaking balls and fastballs. That, to me, is a great sign. It means I’m balanced and I’m in a spot I want to be in.”
The fact that Story is again capable of catching up to elite fastballs this spring may be the most encouraging development of all for the Red Sox. His bat no longer looks slow as he brings it through the zone, and thanks to some added muscle, he appears stronger when he connects, too.
“I know I have a quick bat and I know that I can handle that type of pitching,” said Story. “It’s been nice to show that again. I’m way ahead of (last year). I’m much more settled in and I’m not trying to catch up with everybody the way I did when I was coming back from that injury.”
Much of the improvement, of course, comes with better health. After undergoing internal brace surgery on his right elbow in January of 2023, Story didn’t make his season debut until August. When he did, he struggled mightily to catch up to major league velocity, striking out an alarming 32.7 percent rate, his highest in a season since 2017.
“What I’m seeing now, compared to last year — and obviously, it’s still spring training and all that — is he’s in a better place,” said Cora.
In his first two seasons in Boston, Story has not been the offensive force the Red Sox forecast when they signed him to a six-year, $140 million free agent deal after the 2022 lockout. Much of it, no doubt, can be linked to his elbow issues.
Now, with a fully healthy elbow and normal offseason, Story finally has a chance to deliver. It’s easy to forget that he had an .863 OPS in six seasons with the Rockies. Even allowing for the Coors Field effect, Story averaged almost 31 homers in his first four seasons in the big leagues.
Stronger and healthier, there’s no reason he couldn’t pop 30 again this season.
The Sox need him to be that force again. No other righthanded hitter on the roster profiles as a potential game-changer: Tyler O’Neill is injury-prone. Ceddanne Rafaela, if he indeed makes the roster, is unproven. Connor Wong is offensively limited.
The Sox know they’ll get elite production from Devers. They believe Casas is a star in the making who will better his impressive performance as a rookie.
But Story could be key. If he delivers, the Red Sox suddenly have a top half of a lineup that can’t compete with almost anyone. If he doesn’t, Devers and Casas won’t see a lot of strikes and the batting order won’t scare anyone.
“We need me to perform the way that I know I can,” said Story of the expectations he faces. “I love that. That’s part of why I wanted to come here. I wanted to come here and be a big contributor to a winning team.”
Story didn’t get that chance in 2022, when he signed late, left the team for the birth of his first child, got sick after the first series of the season and never appeared to get comfortable. Switching leagues probably didn’t help matters.
Last year, he missed the first four months and when he returned, with the team still on the fringes of the wild card race, he probably didn’t give himself enough time. Watching Story try to catch up in August and September was like watching someone trying to leap aboard a moving train.
“It seems in some ways kind of like this is the first year for me (in Boston),” he said, reflecting on the first two seasons. “Now, I’ve got full health, a clear mind. I have high expectations for myself. I know I’m putting in the work, and the spring at-bats have shown that.”
