When Trevor Story spoke earlier this week, the Red Sox shortstop signaled it was possible he could return to the big league club as soon as this weekend.
Yet while his rehab assignment with the WooSox has gone smoothly so far, it’ll be at least a few more days before the veteran returns.
Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Story and outfielder Roman Anthony will both remain on their respective rehab assignments for a couple more days. Story (sports hernia) was scheduled to play nine innings at shortstop with the WooSox on Friday and again on Saturday, and Anthony (sprained right hand) was scheduled to be the designated hitter for the Portland Sea Dogs Friday, have Saturday off and play the outfield on Sunday.
Infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left forearm inflammation) is also scheduled to play nine innings at second base on Saturday with Worcester.
Tracy said at this point in the rehab process the goal for Story and Anthony is to get re-accustomed to the day-to-day grind of playing baseball and making sure they reach a point where when either player is activated they can play without needing scheduled off days early on.
“It’ll beat up on your body. So for any of us that have participated in plenty of spring trainings before you know what that feels like on your hips, your knees and ankles and stuff and Trevor knows that too, he’s felt some of that,” Tracy said. “Just being able to get on your feet for nine innings, do it again, that’s good, and the more he’s doing that the more he’s getting tested too. If he gets more opportunities to get tested on the bases, tested laterally, all that and in the meantime you’re getting more at bats, so we’ll see how he feels after doing back-to-back nines, we’ll check in with him after Saturday and see where he’s at physically.”
Could either Story or Anthony rejoin the team when they travel to Miami on Monday?
“It’s hard to say, I think it’s going to be easier to answer based on how they feel coming out of these games,” Tracy said. “Now we’re getting to area where you’re playing longer and stretching them out a bit longer so we’ll see how they feel.”
Extra innings
In addition to the three players on rehab assignments, Tracy also said left-hander Garrett Crochet (left shoulder inflammation) is throwing out to 90 feet and right-hander Garrett Whitlock (right elbow inflammation) is out to 120 feet. Right-hander Justin Slaten (right elbow inflammation) has not resumed throwing yet. … Right-hander Tanner Houck (Tommy John surgery rehab) will throw another live batting practice session in Fort Myers on Monday. … Although Tracy didn’t have a specific timeline for his recovery, the expectation is Triston Casas (left wrist surgery) will likely miss the rest of the season.