Trevor Story gives update on return to Red Sox, being ‘right on schedule’ after surgery

On May 21, Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story had surgery to repair a sports hernia in Philadelphia. A month later, he’s on the mend — and in some ways, making strides more quickly than the team expected.

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="CMETJCGLF5AX3HSYNLTXUIQ5XM">After a short period of resting at home in Texas after the operation, Story has been rehabbing in Boston both when the team is home and on the road. Before games, he has engaged in running drills on the field and even taken swings as he ramps up baseball activity.

class="ampexcoVideoPlayer">“He’s actually progressing pretty nicely,” interim manager Chad Tracy said Thursday. “Let’s call it ‘running,’ it’s not full-bore sprinting, but he’s jogging at a pretty good pace. He has actually swung a bat off a tee a little bit. He’s got a ways to go but he’s in a better spot than I’d figure I’d see him at this point. He’s making pretty good steps.”

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="2OCLYMVFSVHZJJHE6VR574FZMY">Story dealt with discomfort in his groin and other areas throughout the season before deciding to shut things down on May 16, when he was placed on the injured list in Atlanta. After consulting with multiple doctors, he decided to go under the knife for the third time in five seasons with the Red Sox. On June 2, he told reporters that he expected to return to the field 8-12 weeks after the surgery. A month into rehabbing, he believes he’s still on track.

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="RWXZ6KB7NVBV7KRBV6ZGT4JHDE">“We’re right on schedule, doing it the way we want to do it,” Story said after Thursday’s game at Fenway Park. “I’m excited about that.

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="EUTRLL2BIRDVBLFY23VFU46HLE">“We’re still trying to shoot for that, what I said the first time, 8-12 weeks. I think it’s just important to do it right this first time. From guys that I’ve talked to, and our surgeon, too. Get it right the first time so you don’t have to deal with it down the road.”

BETTING: The over/under for Monday’s series opener featuring the Red Sox and the Rockies is set at 11.5 total runs on FanDuel. Our complete FanDuel Sportsbook review makes it easy to figure out how to use their app.The eight-week timeline would allow Story to return to the Red Sox lineup around the All-Star break, which ends July 17 when Boston hosts the Rays for a doubleheader. Returning then might be a goal for Story, though he knows not rushing things — and returning in late July or early August — might be more prudent.

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="5UBNQ4P5VZC5HOFKQUL2YNIVZQ">“It’s a situation where you can go at your own pace but you don’t want to be too crazy with that,” Story said.

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="XLKAR76XJNH33JE5ERGO6ZQEXA">Because the procedure was done on the lower abdomen, every aspect of Story’s game has been affected. Unlike a more localized injury that would allow him to stay active with a certain area, Story has to rebuild strength while hitting, fielding and running. Pregame infield drills will likely be the last step, Story said.

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="4DCJMWII3BHCXLSXF5RHLK566Q">“I’m feeling good,” he said. “I’m doing some running and with the legs, getting the strength back in there. Doing a lot more baseball stuff now. Hitting off the tee a little bit.

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="QOK3NRSRZZEURBM7PTPPSDWIAQ">“I would say the defense and the side-to-side full-out sprints is probably the most taxing on it and somewhere where we have to be patient — but also aggressive at the same time."

This week, while the Red Sox are playing at Story’s former home (Coors Field in Denver), he’ll be back at Fenway in hopes of taking the next steps in his rehab. If he feels strong enough, Story might be able to ramp up parts of his game rather quickly.

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="Z2YUEIHNKZFW5LU4FGLKDIBKDE">“Progressing the swinging more,” he said of his goals for the coming week. “The swinging is ahead, because that’s the least taxing on the area. We’ll get into some flips and maybe some BP next week. Then, I would imagine getting into getting the glove (going). We have the arm going, so we’re getting the throwing program going. We’ll see about ground balls possibly next week or the week after.”

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="3QXLJG5ITBEPFFGXNOSXL56DIY">Of course, Story knows the Red Sox — who have scuffled both before his injury and since — might be out of contention by the time he returns. The trade deadline looms on August 3.

class="article__paragraph article__paragraph--left" id="ZKAFZ5TLGJCNDHEYSJKCUVR5L4">“It’s frustrating, man,” he said. “It’s hard to believe that this is where we’re at. It’s hard to put into words that this is where we’re at. I wouldn’t believe it at all if you told me this at the beginning of the year. Obviously, a lot of things play into that. But there’s still a lot of ball left.”

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