In speaking to MassLive's Christopher Smith on Sunday, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora went into detail about the benefits of Trevor Story batting second in the Red Sox order.
“What he did last year, the last three months, he was one of the best hitters in the big leagues,” Cora told Smith.
“And it’s not about earning or he deserves whatever. But the guy stole 30 bags, he drove in 90-something runs, hit 20-something homers. He was amazing hitting the ball the other way. And if that’s the case, he’s going to be surrounded by lefties, which at one point, they’re probably going to bring a lefty for Roman. He’ll face a lefty and he can cash in.”
Cora didn't necessarily spell out that Story is locked in as the No. 2 hitter behind leadoff hitter Roman Anthony.
Story put together a resilient 2025 season overall, appearing in a career-high 157 games while logging 156 starts at shortstop. The veteran posted a .263 batting average, 25 home runs, 96 RBIs, 91 runs, and a personal-best 31 stolen bases in 32 attempts over 612 at-bats, finishing with a .741 OPS.
After struggling early with an OPS under .600 through late May, he turned things around dramatically in the final three months to become one of the league’s more consistent offensive threats.
The durability stood out after previous injury setbacks in Boston, marking his first full campaign since 2021. Story helped the Red Sox reach the postseason before their wild-card round loss to the New York Yankees. Shortly after the season, he opted into the final two years of his contract, committing to the club through 2027 at $25 million per season.
Over 10 major league seasons, the 33-year-old has compiled a .265 batting average, 1,070 hits, 204 home runs, 636 RBIs, and 160 stolen bases. He earned two Silver Slugger Awards and two All-Star nods during his time with the Colorado Rockies.
Story arrived at spring training healthy and motivated to carry forward the momentum from his 2025 showing while providing stability to the Red Sox infield.
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