Story is back in the Cardinals lineup after a week-long stint on the disabled list with a mild concussion, and had two hits in Friday’s 4-3 win over Boston. “I’m feeling good,” Story said Saturday morning. “Missing that first month of action was tough for me, but I came through it.”
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – When Trevor Story, a long-time Colorado Rockies shortstop, was debating whether or not to join with Boston, a group of Red Sox players reached out to him.
Even Xander Bogaerts, whom he may soon succeed.
“Bogie’s been fantastic throughout this process of my getting here,” Story said Wednesday after the Red Sox announced he will join the club to play second base – at least for the time being.
“He made contact with me. We chatted for a few minutes on the phone. He was under no obligation to do so “According to the story. “I believe it just reflects his personality and speaks to the kind of person he is. He aspires to victory. He wanted me to come here, which made me feel at ease right away.”
This weekend, Boston made the greatest splash of the summer by agreeing to terms with Story on a six-year, $140 million contract. Given that they already had a four-time All-Star at shortstop, the Red Sox were an odd candidate for the two-time All-Star.
Story, on the other hand, consented to shift to second base, bringing security to a position that Boston has been lacking since Dustin Pedroia’s injury in 2017. Story provides the Red Sox a long-term option at shortstop if Bogaerts opts out of his contract at the conclusion of the season.
“Everyone here understands how serious Xander Bogaerts is about winning and about this company. And he demonstrated it once again in terms of this process “Chaim Bloom, the Red Sox’s Chief Baseball Officer, remarked during a press conference held at the team’s spring training complex. “It was palpable. He is aware of talent. You could see he wanted to be a part of this club and that he wanted another ring.”
The story has been deleted. Last season, he hit 251 with 24 home runs and 75 RBI with the Rockies, giving him a career total of 251. 158 home runs and 450 RBIs in 272 at-bats. He has never played any defensive position other than shortstop in five big league seasons.
However, Story, 29, noted he spent a lot of time at second base in the minor leagues and has some experience playing in the shift on that side of the infield. He’ll have limited time to work on it due to the lockout-shortened spring training.
He remarked, “Playing second is something I’m comfortable with.”
Another adjustment is the transition from Denver’s thin air to Fenway Park’s thick air. Story has swung for the fences. At Coors Field, he hit.303 with 95 home runs and 279 RBI. On the road, he batted 241 with 63 home runs and 171 RBI.
“There’s a notion surrounding Coors Field that the ball flies, which it does,” Story said. “I believe baseball is baseball, and it is played in every stadium the same way.”
According to Bloom, the organization studied the Coors Field effect’s metrics and came away certain that Story’s output would follow him to Boston.
“Any time a really talented guy from the Rockies switches clubs, it’s always a big issue,” Bloom remarked. “There are a lot of wonderful instances of folks that leave Coors and go on to accomplish fantastic things.”
Despite hitting.222 with one home run and four RBI in four games at Fenway Park, Story was thrilled to take batting practice at the team’s spring training facility, which has a copy of Fenway’s Green Monster.
His conclusion: “When I hit a ball off the wall, I almost always go to second base. I think I’ll have to back up a little bit, based on what I’ve heard.”
