The Boston Red Sox are widely viewed as serious contenders in the American League East this season, but staying healthy will be crucial to their playoff hopes. That’s why fans were concerned when shortstop was scratched from the lineup with mild upper-back tightness before a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
After the game, manager Alex Cora reassured reporters that Story was fine. “He’s doing OK,” Cora said, per MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “He’s just tight. He was taking grounders today, felt it a little bit. He should play soon.”
However, Story was absent from lineup against the Minnesota Twins. According to Christopher Smith of MassLive, Cora later confirmed that Story would participate in a simulated game and is expected to return to live action.
The 32-year-old infielder missed most of the 2024 season after dislocating his left shoulder while making a diving play on April 5 against the Angels, requiring surgery that sidelined him until September. Since signing a six-year, $140 million contract with Boston in 2022, Story has played in just 163 of a possible 486 regular-season games, batting .232 with 21 home runs and a .693 OPS.