The Boston Red Sox got back on track on Tuesday and Wednesday, winning back-to-back games over the Rays.
Sitting at 10-10 heading into Friday's series opener against the White Sox, Boston is just two games back of the AL East lead and one win away from tying the most wins in the AL so far (Yankees, Blue Jays, and Rangers all have 11 wins).
While the Red Sox have not played their best baseball over the past week, the good news is that there's so much room for improvement after only 20 games, and they are still firmly in the division race with pitching help on the way.
Another bright spot for the team is that they've been able to see a healthy Trevor Story in the lineup on a nightly basis, which could not be said in seasons past.
In the fourth year of his six-year, $160 million contract, Story has appeared in all 20 games of the young season, playing good defense at shortstop and hitting the ball effectively.
Trevor Story Has Impressed During Red Sox's Slow Start
The 32-year-old was riding a six-game hitting streak into Wednesday night's matchup with Tampa, and has given the Red Sox a boost when they've needed it.
Since signing with Boston in 2022, Story has failed to play in 100 games for the team in a single season, and only played in 26 contests last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in April while diving for a ground ball.
The Red Sox gave Story a lucrative deal with the impression that he would be their everyday shortstop for the next half-decade or so, but injuries threw a wrench in his 2023 and 2024 seasons with the team.
This season has been a whole different "Story", as Trevor has gone 23-74 with three home runs, 8 RBIs, and six stolen bases. He is slashing .311/.329/459, his best numbers in a Red Sox uniform, and looking more like the two-time All-Star he was with the Rockies.
Story's strong start to the season has been a breath of fresh air for the Red Sox and their fans, who have been waiting a few years to see success like this.
Trevor Story DESTROYS this baseball 💥 pic.twitter.com/SNhiC70mAc
— MLB (@MLB) April 4, 2025
Although the sample size is small, Story has been one of the Red Sox's most consistent hitters thus far besides Alex Bregman and Wilyer Abreu. On the fielding side of things, he has only committed one error and holds a .986 fielding percentage this season.
The bottom line for Story is that if he can stay healthy, he has proven to be a hitter with the upside of 20-plus home runs while also maintaining a respectable average. Hitting in the top half of the Red Sox order will provide RBI opportunities on a nightly basis for the Irving, TX native.
Marcelo Mayer was a fan favorite throughout Spring Training and looks to be the Red Sox's shortstop of the future after Story. For now, the Red Sox have their guy healthy and playing well after two injury-riddled seasons.
Story has an opt-out option in his contract after this season, but the Red Sox can exercise a club option that will void the opt-out and add an additional year to his deal in 2028.