Trevor Story: From Undesirable to Undeniable

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

September 13, 2025

Trevor Story, who’s in the middle of his best season since joining the Boston Red Sox, has had a long road to get to this point. From possibly being the best shortstop in the league, to a cautionary tale, he’s gone from undesirable to undeniable throughout his tenure in Boston.

Mile High Club

Trevor Story as a member of the Colorado Rockies was debatably the best shortstop in the league. From 2018-2021, Story was a constant at shortstop for Colorado. During that span, he had three 20–20 seasons, with two of them being 30–20. Story, along with superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado led the Rockies to what is still their latest playoff appearance back in 2018.

Despite having a team featuring possibly the best shortstop in the league, as well as the best third baseman in Arenado, the Rockies decided to rebuild. In 2021, the Rockies traded Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals for what was at the time a lackluster package.

Four years later, the trade doesn’t look any better in hindsight. Three of the five players they received never reached the majors, and the Rockies cut the only remaining player this August. That being left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber.

2021 Free Agency

Somehow, Story stayed on the team, despite his contract expiring after the 2021 season. After a 74–87 campaign, Story tested free agency. He was surely going to get an exorbitant contract for his services. Which he did.

The 2021 free agent class of shortstop were stacked, to say the least. Among the class were Story, Carlos Correa, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Javier Baez.

The Boston Red Sox didn’t need any of these shortstops, as they had Xander Bogaerts at the time. Despite this, the decided to make a splash. Boston swooped in to sign Trevor Story to a six-year, $140 million contract. Funny enough, the Story-Bogaerts shortstop debacle of 2021 was a lot like the Alex Bregman–Rafael Devers third base debacle of this year.

At the end of the day, the two-time all-star and two-time gold glover was seen as a successful signing at the time. However, nobody could’ve predicted what would unfold in the next three seasons.

Unforeseen Circumstances

Story experienced a rough downturn of his career in his first three years for the Boston Red Sox. Normally, 21 home runs, 90 RBI and 29 stolen bases are pretty good through 163 games, a full season plus one game. Not so much when those 163 games are dispersed through three separate seasons.

The most games Story played in a season in Boston was 97 back in 2022. His season got shortened due to a hairline fracture in his wrist, as well as a bruised heel. Story’s 2023 saw him play his first game in August, and only suit up for 43 total games. That was due to undergoing Tommy John surgery in January. Finally, 2024 Story only played 26 games due to shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.

His performance through two months of the 2025 campaign didn’t exactly help fan sentiment either. The month of May was a bit of a disaster for Story. Through 95 at-bats that month, he hit .158 with a .432 OPS. So after around two months, the user, as well as numerous Red Sox fans, felt vindicated with their anti-Story thoughts.

The Red Sox being four games under .500 at the end of May, and Alex Bregman being sidelined for a quad injury made Boston fans disregard the whole year.

At the end of May, an article was written by Katrina Stebbins for BoSox Injection. There, she detailed three free agents the Sox could’ve gone with instead of Trevor Story. Two of the players listed were Correa and Semien.

Although the article reeks of hindsight, it doesn’t make it any less wrong that the Story signing hadn’t worked out in the slightest. Yet another disastrous signing to put up next to Carl Crawford and Pablo Sandoval.

From Undesirable to Undeniable

That was before Story started lighting it up in the month of June and beyond. He would improve on his hitting numbers by quite some margins. From batting .158 in May to .286 in June, a .432 OPS to an .827 OPS, and seven RBI in May, to 23 RBI in June. 23 RBI tied Story for fifth in the majors during the month of June.

Better yet, since June, Story’s monthly OPS hasn’t dipped below .800. July also saw a resurgence of the Red Sox, winning 10 in a row heading into the all-star break.

Story has secured himself the fourth 20–20 season of his career. He currently leads the Red Sox in batting average, home runs and RBI, as Boston looks to make the playoffs for the first time since Story signed there.

Story has been a driving force when Boston is winning. When Story performs, the Red Sox do as well. Not only that, his regaining form has been part of the reason Boston fans don’t regret the Devers trade.

Story regaining form after his injuries is nothing short of spectacular. Better yet, Story, if he decides not to opt-out, has two more years on his contract, it’s a safe bet the rest of the team would be glad to have him.