Trevor Story’s path back to the Red Sox finally has a real timeline attached to it.
Boston has been without the two-time All-Star shortstop since May 14, but that wait appears to be nearing its end. According to Tommy Cassell of the Worcester T&G Sports, Story was in Worcester on Friday for a workout and is slated to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.
"Reinforcements could be coming soon for the Boston Red Sox," Cassell wrote. "With rumors swirling around the timeline of when outfielder Roman Anthony will return from the injured list, shortstop Trevor Story worked out in Worcester Friday and is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, according to sources."
The Red Sox still have not announced exactly when Story will be back in the majors, but the rehab rules give this process a clear outer limit. Position players can spend no more than 20 days on a rehab assignment unless there’s a setback, and they don’t have to use all of that time.
If Story starts Sunday, that 20-day window would run through Friday, Sep. 4.
At that point, Boston would need to make a roster call. If he stays on the full schedule, his earliest return would be Saturday, Sep. 5 against the Baltimore Orioles.
Of course, it could happen sooner. The club doesn’t have to keep him in the minors for the full stretch, and the Red Sox have already shown that with a rehab assignment like Adley Rutschman’s, which lasted just two games with Triple-A Worcester before he was brought back.
So Story’s timeline is flexible, but it’s now measurable: a few days, or as many as 20.
For Boston, this is a meaningful step. Story drew plenty of criticism early this season, but the bigger question has always been health.
He underwent sports hernia surgery, and the injury was affecting him early enough that it may help explain the offensive struggles. What the Red Sox want now is the version of Story they got last September, when he carried much of the offense late and into the postseason.
In 23 games last September, Story hit .302/.337/.458 with a .795 OPS, along with three home runs, 12 RBIs, seven stolen bases and six doubles. If Boston gets that version back, the lineup looks very different.
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