All season lengthy Trevor Story’s potential return has loomed as a distant chance, however now the two-time All-Star is nearing the ultimate phases of his restoration from elbow surgical procedure and could also be weeks away from getting again on the sector at Fenway Park.
It would possibly even be before that at Polar Park in Worcester or Hadlock Field in Portland, as Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora indicated Wednesday that Story might be prepared to start his minor league rehab project after the All-Star break.
“Probably, I don’t want to put a timetable, he’s been so good so far, no obstacles, no red flags,” Cora stated. “You never know what could happen in the upcoming days leading up to whenever we decide, but so far it’s trending in the right direction, and fast.”
Story has been throwing and taking batting follow at Fenway Park for the previous few weeks, and Wednesday he placed on a present through the pregame defensive drills, making a sequence of deep throws to first all the way in which from shallow left discipline earlier than turning a sequence of double performs with Cora.
Cora stated afterwards that it was his first time seeing Story actually go for it out on the sector and that Story’s throws are carrying a lot better than they did final yr. He added they haven’t any issues about his offensive sport, but additionally that when Story returns it will likely be as a shortstop and never as a chosen hitter.
“He’s in a good spot right now,” Cora stated. “Obviously there is a process, there’s a lot of stuff that we have to make sure is ok, but as far as the throwing and obviously the physical part of it, he’s fine.”
Story is sort of six months out from present process inside bracing surgical procedure on his proper ulnar collateral ligament. The process is taken into account a much less drastic different to Tommy John surgical procedure and normally has roughly half the restoration time, however the surgical procedure can be comparatively new and doesn’t have an extended monitor report to attract from in relation to place gamers.
Upon the announcement of his damage the Red Sox sounded a pessimistic tone about Story’s probabilities of taking part in in 2023, however the 30-year-old has made quick progress and now appears to be like set to assist shore up Boston’s dire shortstop state of affairs proper when the membership wants him most.
Presuming Story does start his rehab project after the All-Star break and doesn’t expertise any setbacks, he would most definitely debut with the Portland Sea Dogs, who’ve a three-game sequence in Reading, Pennsylvania over the weekend of July 14-16 earlier than returning dwelling to Maine for a week-long homestand towards the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
The Worcester Red Sox are additionally an choice, however they’ve a three-time sequence all the way in which down in Jacksonville earlier than then spending the next week on the street in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Sox contemplating Turner at second
Triston Casas was not within the lineup Wednesday regardless of the Texas Rangers beginning a right-hander, and Cora stated previous to the sport that was a consequence of needing to maintain the purple sizzling Jarren Duran within the lineup.
Duran, who got here into Wednesday 10 of his final 16 (.625) with seven extra-base hits over his final 5 video games, was penciled into the leadoff spot and at left discipline. To accommodate that and in addition to maintain Adam Duvall at heart, Masataka Yoshida was bumped to designated hitter and Justin Turner (7 for 18, two dwelling runs in final 4 video games) performed first base, leaving nowhere for the rookie Casas.
That received’t be an choice each night time, and Cora indicated they’ve thought-about some drastic alternate options to make sure their finest hitters are within the lineup. One of these includes beginning Turner at second base.
“He hasn’t played second in a while but we need offense. I know we want defense but I think JT would make the routine plays, he’ll turn double plays, we’ve been talking about different scenarios about how to get (Duran) in the game.”
Though Turner has performed the overwhelming majority of his 15 seasons within the majors at third base, he does have expertise taking part in second, with 137 profession video games on the place. Most of that got here early in his profession, nonetheless, and courting again to 2015 he’s solely performed in 10 video games at second.
Chang, Rodriguez nearing return
Infielder Yu Chang (left hamate fracture) was again within the Red Sox clubhouse on Wednesday after taking part in 9 innings at shortstop with the WooSox the day earlier than, and Cora stated he’s not experiencing hand soreness and can doubtless be activated both Thursday or Friday relying on the membership’s different roster strikes.
Left-hander Joely Rodriguez (left shoulder irritation) is in the same boat, and whereas Cora stated he may benefit from one other rehab outing, he might be activated within the coming days as nicely.
Left-hander Richard Bleier (left elbow irritation) was scheduled to make his second rehab look for Worcester on Wednesday, and shortstop Pablo Reyes (stomach pressure) was additionally within the WooSox lineup.
Left-hander Corey Kluber (proper shoulder irritation) is anticipated to throw his first bullpen on Friday, and shortstop Adalberto Mondesi (left ACL rehab) nonetheless isn’t doing any baseball actions.
The membership additionally introduced that right-hander Wyatt Mills underwent profitable Tommy John surgical procedure on his proper elbow on Wednesday. Mills was acquired this previous offseason in trade for right-hander and Methuen native Jacob Wallace, and he has not pitched this season since being shut down halfway by way of spring coaching.
Houck enduring disagreeable restoration
Right-hander Tanner Houck skilled one of many scariest accidents you’ll see on a baseball discipline after he was hit within the face by a line drive again on June 16, struggling a facial fracture and what Cora lately described as a “slight” concussion.
The Red Sox have been tight-lipped on Houck’s standing since then past that he isn’t near a return, however Wednesday Cora supplied an replace that means the previous few weeks have been deeply disagreeable for the 27-year-old.
“He’s not eating solids yet, only soups, I think he’s lost like seven pounds, but he’s in good spirits,” Cora stated. “He’s going to see the doctor tomorrow and after that nutrition is the next step and exercise-wise hopefully he can start getting after it on Friday, but little by little.”
Houck underwent surgical procedure on June 27. He is at present on the 15-day injured checklist.
Source: www.bostonherald.com