Healthy again, Trevor Story wants to deliver on Red Sox investment

BOSTON — As he watched the ball leap off Trevor Story’s bat toward Fenway Park’s Monster Seats in left field in the first inning on Friday, Triston Casas felt a twinge of joy.

While Jarren Duran hustled to grab the Wally the Green Monster headpiece - the team’s new home run celebration idol — he beamed.

Both Red Sox teammates knew what Story has been through and what the home run meant to their veteran shortstop.

It was Story’s second home run this season, but his first at Fenway Park since Sept 14, 2023.

“Dude, it’s awesome. He’s still making plays out there and being the electric player that he is,” Duran said. “People forget how good he really was when he’s healthy.”

They forget because it’s been so long since Duran has been healthy for a long stretch. Last year, Story never made it to Opening Day at Fenway. He dislocated and fractured his shoulder just eight games into the season. It was supposed to end his season.

Story pushed the pace of his rehab and was back in August. Too late to impact the playoff race, but enough time to start rebuilding his confidence.

In Story’s first three seasons with the Red Sox, he’s never played more than 94 games and spent more time rehabbing his various injured joints than on the field.

That was far from what he envisioned when he signed a six-year, $140 million contract in Boston. He thought he’d be a key piece of an annual postseason team. Instead, in those three years, there’s been no postseason — two last-place finishes and one third — and more often than not, no Story.

The former Colorado Rockies star has an elaborate gym set up at his Texas home. After working to get himself healthy enough to return in mid-August last year, Story, 32, attacked the offseason just as hard in hopes of coming starting this season strong.

Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas visited him in January.

"Getting to to go visit him in the offseason," Casas said. “I could see what kind of regimen he holds and how hard he works on the physical side. He earns everything he gets.”

Still, Story was in danger of being a bust and maybe even replaced. Coming out of Spring Training, it felt like highly-touted shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer might have a shot to beat him out. But the Red Sox stuck with the veteran.

“We know what type of player he is. He’s a guy that can play defense and do damage,” Cora said. “He cares, which is the most important thing.”

Story was slow out of the gate (1-for-11) against the Rangers, but started to find his swing in Baltimore. He was 4-for-12 against the Orioles and had a big home run in Boston’s 3-0 win on Wednesday. His play at shortstop is part of a much-improved Red Sox defense.

“It feels just like we’re competing, not worrying about injuries or how my body’s gonna feel or whatever,” Story said. “It’s just about playing. That’s the way it should be. I feel like a kid out there.”

Story isn’t naturally demonstrative, but he pumped his first and shouted as he crossed the plate on Friday.

“In the moment, just fired up, man. I’m just ready. After missing the last home opener, to do it today means a lot to me,” Story said. “There’s a moment where you kind of take a deep breath and realize how far you’ve come.”