After entering the season almost fully healthy, the Boston Red Sox had a surge of injuries as the one quarter mark closed in. Sonny Gray, Garrett Crochet, Danny Coulombe, Roman Anthony and Trevor Story were all placed on the injured list in rather quick succession.
Story landed on the IL retroactive to May 15 with a sports hernia originally diagnosed vaguely as a groin issue. The shortstop had no indication of his timeline until May 22.
Story got multiple opinions on his injury and debated whether or not he should undergo a surgical sports hernia repair. He made up his mind to get the procedure, which the Red Sox announced before Boston's Friday series opener against the Minnesota Twins. The procedure will keep Story out for 6-10 weeks. That puts his return around the time of the trade deadline.
The veteran's injury allegedly lingered from spring training well into the season which could be the reason for his frustrating play so far. Story has batted .206/.244/.303 with 57 strikeouts and eight walks, he leads the Red Sox with six errors and posted three outs below average over 41 games.
Trevor Story undergoes sports hernia repair, giving Marcelo Mayer a chance to win Red Sox shortstop job
For weeks, many Sox fans have called for the team to give Marcelo Mayer a try at shortstop, and now could finally be his time. Boston said Mayer wouldn't see any playing time at shortstop on Story's days off and insisted that he focus on second base, but a long-term injury could force it to adjust.
The Red Sox's middle infield defense (besides Story) has been much stronger than usual this year with Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at the corners. Mayer is also a strong defender with three outs above average and one defensive run saved at second base. Mayer has been a shortstop throughout this entire tenure with the Red Sox and his hopeful return to his natural position will be must-see TV.
Boston hasn't clarified who will play shortstop yet. Andruw Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa could also be options, and Nick Sogard could handle it when he's not playing third base in Caleb Durbin's stead. Mayer should get some reps at shortstop, regardless, and he should take these 6-10 weeks of Story's absence as a tryout to win the job permanently.
Story is not the defender he used to be and has no business taking up shortstop every day while a better defender plays second base next to him. Yet, the Red Sox don't want to admit defeat and are insistent on keeping Story in a position where he's visibly regressed. If Boston wants to be the best version of itself, it'll play Mayer in Story's stead and keep him there for the rest of the season.
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