For the first time in nearly two weeks, Red Sox second baseman Trevor Story swung a bat on Sunday.
Story has not appeared in a game since July 13 after taking an 89 mph sinker from Corey Kluber off his right hand on an awkward swing at Tropicana Field the night before. The 29-year-old was diagnosed with a right hand contusion and X-rays on said hand came back negative.
Boston placed Story on the 10-day injured list on July 16, retroactive to July 14. Prior to Sunday’s milestone taking place, the right-handed hitting infielder had been limited to just tracking pitches in the batter’s box.
When speaking with reporters (including MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith) ahead of Sunday’s 8-4 loss to the Blue Jays at Fenway Park, Red Sox manager Alex Cora expressed optimism when providing an update on Story’s status.
“He swung today,” said Cora. “A lot better. So we’ll see how he reacts during the day and hopefully, at some point this week, he’ll be OK. But he swung today. He swung early. So things are trending in the right direction.”
While Cora indicated that Story could return to the fold in the coming days, he could not give a definitive answer when asked if the two-time All-Star will require a rehab assignment prior to getting activated off the injured list.
“We’ll talk about it,” Cora said.
Story, meanwhile, is itching to get back at it. In the first year of the six-year, $140 million deal he signed with Boston in March, Story is currently batting .221/.289/.423 (93 wRC+) with 17 doubles, 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, 49 runs scored, 28 walks, and 105 strikeouts over 81 games (342 plate appearances). He has also provided the Sox with exceptional defense at second base (positive-8 defensive runs saved), a position the ex-Rockie never played at the major-league level prior to this season.
“I feel much better and just rehabbing around the clock. The whole time trying to get better,” Story explained to The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams on Sunday. “Definitely moving in the right direction. Once I can get [the hand] going and let it rip without crazy soreness, then that will be good. I just have been playing around with the bat just because it’s hard for me to stay away from it.”
(Picture of Trevor Story: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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