What Red Sox could do after SS Trevor Story's latest injury

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story had successful sports hernia surgery, the team announced Friday, but could miss several weeks.

Story said the injury was too difficult to manage and that he received multiple opinions from doctors before electing to have surgery.

“I tried to grind through it and just got to the point where I might need to take a timeout and evaluate some things a little further,” Story said recently, per MLB.com's Ian Browne "Obviously, I haven't been able to really move like myself out there; it kind of built up on me.”

Through 41 games, the two-time All-Star is batting .206 with a .547 OPS and three home runs. 

With Story out, interim manager Chad Tracy will likely use infielders Andruw Monasterio (.250 BA, .682 OPS) and Nick Sogard (.286/.732) to fill in.

Story's absence also weakens the Red Sox's infield depth, already light after not adding depth in the offseason and letting third baseman Alex Bregman walk to the Chicago Cubs in free agency.

Trevor Story endures injuries with Red Sox

In 2022, Story signed a six-year, $140 million contract with the Red Sox, but his time in Beantown has been injury plagued. In his five seasons, Story has played in more than 100 games in a season once (157 last season).  

Story had an opt-out in his contract to become a free agent before this season, but chose to remain with the Red Sox and play out the final two years of his contract. This was a great decision for the two-time Silver Slugger and a disaster for the Red Sox.

Of a possible 648 regular-season games, Story has appeared in 320 with Boston. His injuries have ranged from a right hand and left heel contusions in 2022 to right elbow ulnar collateral ligament repair (Tommy John surgery), cutting short his 2023 (43 games) and 2024 seasons (26 games).

At 22-27 and 11.5 games back of first-place Tampa Bay, the Red Sox already have the look of sellers before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.