'Felt like a kid out there': Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story excited after first WooSox rehab start

WORCESTER — Trevor Story is back playing baseball again.

The Boston Red Sox infielder, who has been on the injured list since April 6, made his return to live game action on Sunday during the Worcester Red Sox’ 11-6 win over the Toledo Mud Hens at Polar Park.

Hitting second and serving as the WooSox designated hitter, Story went 2 for 4 with a double, run and strikeout in his first game in nearly five months.

“It was great,” Story said postgame. “Just honestly, (I) didn’t think that this (was) even a possibility when we first heard the news of the injury. So, to be at this point playing games is pretty special to me and to my family and to all the people that helped me.

“So, I know there’s still a long way to go, but today was a big step.”

Story suffered a left shoulder dislocation and glenoid rim fracture when he dove for a ground ball while playing shortstop for Boston on April 5. The 31-year-old underwent shoulder surgery (including a labrum repair) on April 12, and, at the time, his injury was considered season-ending.

But a ramped-up rehab put the two-time National League All-Star in position to return to live action this month.

“Hard to believe,” Story said. “Just given the circumstance of the injury and the trauma, all the things that went on, (I’m) just thankful, I guess.”

Story missed Boston’s last 129 games after appearing in eight contests with the Red Sox in April — going 7-for-31 with four RBI.

On Sunday, Story felt good getting back into game speed while also getting a few live at-bats under his belt.

“You realize how much you miss the game and miss playing, just being with the boys,” Story said. “I love this game, you know, so being able to play it, I’ll never take that for granted. I felt like a kid out there.”

Story plans to play shortstop on Monday with the WooSox in Rochester and then again on Wednesday. The rehabber says that diving and sliding headfirst are the next hurdles he needs to overcome before a return to Boston.

Story, who underwent internal brace surgery on his right elbow during the 2023 offseason, was on Boston’s injured list last season until early August when he completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester. The former All-Star shortstop with the Colorado Rockies signed a free agent deal with Boston on March 22, 2022. Since then, he’s struggled to stay healthy with the Red Sox.

So, Story is excited about the possibility of getting back to the big-league club while helping the Red Sox make a playoff push.

“It’s something that we didn’t think it was a realistic possibility for this year,” Story said. “We had wrote it off and now it’s going to happen, so I can’t wait for that and just excited to try to help the team win.”

—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story makes first rehab start with WooSox