Trevor Story's season seemed to be over when he underwent shoulder surgery, but the Red Sox star could soon begin rehab assignment.
The 31-year-old has been out of game action since April, but he began fielding ground balls and hitting off a machine this month, which even surprised manager Alex Cora. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow revealed there's a "strong chance" Story makes his return this season, and the two-time All-Star remains optimistic to come back and help Boston.
"I feel like I'm in a good spot to make a return," Story told reporters, per Christopher Smith of MassLive. "So we’re kind of mapping out how that looks here in the next couple weeks. I'm hitting off the machine and doing some things at a high speed and it feels great. So I'm happy about that."
Story admitted it's been a "whirlwind" of a season, especially since it marked another year where he's suffered an injury during his Red Sox career. However, his increased physical activity hints at a possible date for rehab assignment.
"We don’t know yet," Story said. "Sometime in September. That's the goal. I feel good about being in a position where I'm able to play and produce and do my part. So I'm excited about it."
Ceddanne Rafaela along with a rotating infield cast filled in for Story at shortstop, and his return could give Boston a huge boost in the lineup amid its wild-card chase.
