BOSTON — Boston Crimson Sox shortstop Trevor Story is getting near a return to the lineup after having what was anticipated to be season-ending shoulder surgical procedure.
Story injured his shoulder attempting to make a diving cease on a ball off the bat of the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout in Anaheim on April 5. A few week later, Los Angeles Dodgers group doctor Dr. Neal ElAttrache carried out the arthroscopic process on the left posterior labrum.
Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora mentioned Friday that Story will take reside batting follow on Monday at Fenway Park.
“Trevor is swinging reside, common BP on Monday,” Cora mentioned earlier than Boston dropped the opener of its three-game collection in opposition to the Houston Astros, 8-4.
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Story has been taking infield for some time and Cora mentioned when the group was in Colorado two weeks in the past, it grew to become an actual chance that the 31-year-old can be enjoying once more this season.
The projected restoration time for the damage is six months.
“It is an enormous step, enormous,” Cora mentioned. “The place we’re at proper now, I am really believing that he’ll be part of this. I simply do not wish to provide you with a timeline and all that, as a result of I do not wish to put strain on him. However he is placing strain on us, which is the beauty of this.”
Requested the place Story was fielding-wise, Cora mentioned, “He may play 9 innings tomorrow, defensively.”
The ultimate — and seemingly key — step is engaged on issues on the plate.
“He talked about getting a bit bit stronger, the repetitions and the quantity, all that stuff, the completely different shapes of the fastballs and breaking balls,” Cora mentioned. “However I feel that is a giant step. Once I heard it at present, I used to be like: ‘Whoa, OK.”’
Cora mentioned Story has been hitting off a tee and taking gentle toss for some time.
Story is within the third season of a $140 million, six-year contract. He was hitting .226 with 4 RBIs in eight video games. He’s a .265 hitter with 177 homers and 534 RBIs over 9 main league seasons.
He was restricted to 94 video games in 2022 by a bruised proper hand sustained when hit by a pitch from Tampa’s Corey Kluber and bruised left heel. He performed 43 video games final yr after having surgical procedure in January to restore a torn UCL and did not make his season debut till Aug. 8.
The Crimson Sox additionally on Friday positioned right-hander Brayan Bello on the paternity record, however Cora mentioned he’ll make his scheduled begin Monday. Nonetheless, Saturday’s scheduled starter, Cooper Criswell, was positioned on the COVID-19 injured record.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
