A Red Sox player has refuted reports that Trevor Story was waiting for off-season elbow surgery and trying to calmly avoid it.
Boston outfielder Kiké Hernández quoted a report by USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale – who quoted an anonymous teammate as saying Story was “quite aware” of the need for elbow surgery – by beginning with “Full of” and then inserting the poop emoji .
Story underwent an “internal bracing procedure” at his right UCL, the The Red Sox announced on Tuesdayand this elbow surgery typically results in a four to six month recovery time, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The procedure can be viewed as a “modified Tommy John surgery” with a faster return date, according to Passan.
Because of the surgery, the Red Sox will be without their shortstop for most of the season and will need to adjust the left side of their infield. Story was expected to revert to Short, where he began his career with the Rockies after spending the 2022 campaign at second base. He joined Boston last year on a six-year, $140 million contract.
Trevor Story, Getty Images
Kike Hernandez, Getty Images
Alongside him at third base would have been Rafael Devers, who has just signed a 10-year contract extension to remain with the team. Story was named as Xander Bogaerts’ replacement when the shortstop left for the Padres and an 11-year contract.
The Red Sox finished bottom in the AL East in 2022 with a 78-84 record. Story played in 94 games and hit .238 and missed time at various points with bruises to his left heel and right hand. His best campaigns came in 2018 and 2019 – years that included MLB All-Star Game selections – with the Rockies. Story hit .291 and .294 with 108 and 85 RBI, respectively, over those two seasons.
Hernández, on the other hand, was in his second season with Boston in 2022 after spending most of his career with the Dodgers. In 93 games, Hernandez hit .222 with .629 OPS. He spent most of his time in midfield, with brief stints at second base (87.0 innings) and shortstop (44.2 innings).