Boston Red Sox SS Trevor Story Set to Come Off Injured List, Make Season Debut

Manager Alex Cora told reporters that the All-Star shortstop decided he was ready to return to MLB and play the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story will be activated from the 60-day injured list and make his season debut Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, manager Alex Cora told reporters Monday.

Story has yet to appear in the majors in 2023, as he has been slowly working his way back from the elbow surgery he underwent in January.

There was optimism that Story would join the Red Sox in late July, but he continued to delay his return. The infielder hadn't played professional baseball since last September, so Cora said he was still going through his own personal spring training regiment in the minors.

Story started his rehab assignment on July 21, first joining Double-A Portland before eventually making his way up to Triple-A Worcester. Story hit .300 with four home runs, four doubles, nine RBI, a stolen base and an 1.117 OPS across 13 minor league games.

Alex Cora has announced that Trevor Story will be activated tomorrow.

Originally the plan was to return after Wednesday, but it’s clear everyone’s acting with some urgency. pic.twitter.com/HWoDmCr5Hk

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) August 7, 2023

Story signed a six-year, $140 million contract with Boston in 2022, coming off six seasons and two All-Star appearances with the Colorado Rockies. After missing 60 total games from 2017 to 2021, Story missed 68 in 2022 alone due to right hand and left heel contusions, batting .238 with 16 home runs, 66 RBI, 13 stolen bases and a .737 OPS.

The Red Sox went 51-43 with Story last season, compared to 27-41 without him.

Boston is currently sitting at 57-54, but had its playoff hopes slashed by an ongoing 1-7 cold streak. The Red Sox are 5.0 games back of the third and final AL Wild Card spot, with two teams separating them at the Toronto Blue Jays.

In addition to Story, Boston will be getting more reinforcements on the mound.

Cora also told reporters that pitcher Chris Sale – who has been out with a shoulder injury since June 1 – will likely start Friday against the Detroit Tigers. Pitchers Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck are also nearing the ends of their respective rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester, per Cora.

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