4 Red Sox players who will pleasantly surprise Boston fans in 2024

SS Trevor Story

The Red Sox signed Trevor Story to serve as Xander Bogaerts' replacement at shortstop. So far, he's struggled to meet the demands of the position.

No one is denying Story's defensive capabilities. He played just 43 games for Boston last season but managed to log eight defensive runs saved. His offense has left room for improvement. In 2023, he hit just .203/.250/.316, but the biggest issue, by far, was that Story just couldn't manage to stay off the injured list.

The Red Sox are confident that this year will be different for the veteran. He's been putting in work all offseason, which included hosting an infield camp for his fellow Sox players, during which the participants worked on their game.

Story's work in the cages has been showing through, according to Boston's coaching staff. The Sox's hitting coach, Pete Fatse, went as far to call the shortstop "explosive." Story claims he feels a difference in his swing from his chronically injured early days in Boston.

A new era of Story could be coming — not just on the field, but as a leader in the clubhouse as well.