Story activated, ready to help Sox: 'It's time to go'

BOSTON -- When Trevor Story fractured his left shoulder on a diving attempt in Anaheim on April 5 and had surgery a few days later, it was widely assumed his season was over.

But Story beat the odds with relentless work ethic during his rehab and the reward came on Saturday, when the Red Sox activated him from the 60-day injured list and put the shortstop in the seventh spot in the lineup.

"Yeah, it's really exciting,” said Story. “We didn't think this day would be possible this soon. So it truly is a blessing I’m even in this situation. It's a big win for me personally, just to come back this year and get some games under my belt. So I’m excited about that, and just pumped about joining the team and playing some games that matter.”

Story will try to help the Red Sox revive their postseason chances, which have taken a hit during a tough two-week stretch.

The Red Sox have Story, their veteran leader, back for the final 21 games of the season. Entering the day, Boston trails the Twins by five games for the third American League Wild Card spot and the Royals by 5 1/2.

"Yeah, that's a big part of it,” said Story. “We would never put myself or my body at risk. We're being responsible about it. But a lot of it has to do with where we're at. It's time to go. We really don’t have much time left."

The 31-year-old was activated after a four-game Minor League rehab assignment, capping it with a 4-for-5 effort for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.

Given how many months Story has missed, Red Sox manager Alex Cora has set expectations low for the right-handed hitter at the plate.

However, Story has spent several weeks hitting off the Traject machine, which simulates specific Major League pitchers.

When the season started, the Red Sox were thrilled to finally have Story fully healthy again after he played just 43 games in ‘23 due to right elbow surgery that he underwent the previous offseason.

Then there was instant deflation when Story landed hard on his non-throwing shoulder and suffered a glenoid fracture and a torn labrum. The timeline for a return was six months. Story made it back a shade past the five-month mark.

"I still remember that game in Anaheim, then a few days later they said what it was and it was like, ‘No chance.’” said Cora. “I think going to California for the rehab -- nothing against our guys here -- but just kind of disconnecting himself from the day in and day out here in Boston, helped him. I think that cleared his mind."

Story demonstrated his confidence in mid-summer when he sent Cora videos of Kyle Schwarber playing in the 2016 World Series for the Cubs, six months after he tore his ACL.

"I was like, ‘Oh, yeah’, but inside I was, like, ‘No chance.’” said Cora. “And then we had a conversation in Colorado [in July], and now he's ready to go.”

Cora is confident that Story, an elite shortstop, can immediately impact a middle-infield defense that has struggled this season.

“I don’t know how it’s going to look [offensively], but we feel like he's in a good spot physically and he’ll play good defense,” said Cora.

The nine-year veteran has played in 890 career games, slashing .265/.332/.502 with 177 homers, 534 RBIs and 124 stolen bases.

With Story returning, Ceddanne Rafaela is expected to get the bulk of his time at second base for the rest of the season. Rafaela has been Mr. Versatility for the Red Sox this season, starting 70 games at short and 61 in center field. He has played in six games at second base this season, but his one career start there was in ‘23.

Prior to missing 132 games, Story was slashing .226/.294/.323 with three doubles and four RBIs in eight games.

Mickey Gasper, who went 0-for-12 in 10 games after being called up on Aug. 12, was optioned to Triple-A Worcester. The 28-year-old, who grew up in Merrimack, N.H., and played college baseball at Bryant (in Smithfield, R.I.), spent six seasons in the Minor Leagues before getting his first callup to the Majors.