BOSTON — As Trevor Story’s struggles continue, questions have swirled about his future with the Red Sox. For now, at least, they’re sticking with the veteran shortstop.

Story went 1-for-3 on Tuesday in an otherwise listless night for the Red Sox offense in a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Starter Zack Wheeler needed just 16 pitches to get through the first three innings against Boston.

His season-long issues at the plate were encapsulated in his first two at-bats: Hitting into a double play and grounding out after one pitch.

A single in the seventh inning helped keep his average just above the Mendoza Line, at .203 with a .528 OPS in 39 games.

Story has mostly hit fifth under interim manager Chad Tracy, though it’s possible he’s dropped lower in the order. Tracy noted an aversion to major changes when he took the job three weeks ago, knowing how hard the club — and Story in particular — took the firings of Alex Cora and five coaches. Story is also a respected voice in the clubhouse, one Tracy has known since their time together with the Colorado Rockies. 

But this stretch to start the season for Story has been even worse than his brutal start last year after he missed much of 2024 rehabbing from shoulder surgery. Even then, through 39 games, Story was hitting .244 with a .657 OPS. He took off in late May and finished the year with a respectable .263 average, .741 OPS and 25 homers.

Despite how he feels, this year’s version of Story looks far different from that one.

“It’s tough to go through in the moment,” Story said. “But I have confidence that I can do it because I’ve done it before. It’s very similar to last year. So, it takes one game, takes one pitch, and I’m always optimistic about it. I’m not going to sit here and pout about it. I’m not going to sit here and feel sorry for myself.”

Part of that continued internal confidence comes in the work he’s putting in. Even after losing hitting coach Pete Fatse last month, Story has maintained a similar pre-game routine, the same one that helped him break out of his doldrums last May.

“I think if I knew exactly what it was, I would fix it right away,” he said. “But that’s not baseball. And, there’s a lot that goes into it physically, mentally and effort-wise.”

In terms of effort, the bad games have piled up and Story feels like he’s trying to “do too much in the moment,” putting in too much effort to try and carry a team that is slumping.

“The (pre-game) work is really good and that’s been the frustrating part, is that the work is great,” he said. “Then the game comes and it hasn’t been executed in the game.”

The lack of offense is one thing, but Story’s defense has been costly, too.

It’s not just the bat that Trevor Story has struggled with this season. (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)

On Sunday, Story snapped a personal 20-game errorless streak with a fielding error that contributed to a Red Sox loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. (An error that was initially ruled on the play has since been removed but is likely to be retroactively added after review.)

Collectively, the Red Sox have been one of baseball’s best defenses. They lead the league in Defensive Runs Saved (37) and are second in Outs Above Average (15).

Story, though, has been average or slightly worse at a key position on the diamond. He’s posted -2 OAA and 0 DRS this season while totaling four errors.

Prior to Tuesday’s game, Tracy was asked if there might be any changes to the infield, particularly involving second baseman Marcelo Mayer, who was drafted and developed as a shortstop. There has been some speculation as to whether the Red Sox would slide Mayer to short and Story to second, but Tracy downplayed the idea of Mayer shifting positions.

“As of now, no plans on doing that,” Tracy said.

The “as of now” part of that phrase carries some weight, though.

Story remains under contract through 2027 on a six-year, $140 million deal, making an average annual salary of $23 million. It’s been a tough contract to swallow with Story missing much of its first three years with various injuries.

The Red Sox hold a club option on Story for 2028.

At Double-A Portland, top position player prospect Franklin Arias (No. 1 in Red Sox system, No. 12 in The Athletic’s Keith Law’s Top 100), a shortstop, is lighting it up with a .367 average and 1.126 OPS in 27 games. Though Arias is on a tear, it’s unlikely the Red Sox would promote him to the majors. They’ve seen what relying too heavily on a top prospect like Roman Anthony to turn around an offense can do. Arias should be in Triple A before the All-Star break and could debut in Boston by the end of the year.

Nevertheless, he figures to be the club’s shortstop of the future, with one evaluator pegging him as a better defender at short than Mayer, who would remain at second. The Mayer-Arias tandem seems to be part of Boston’s plan down the road, but in the present, the Red Sox continue to live through Story’s struggles.

Designating Story for assignment is another unlikely scenario no matter how cutthroat chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been. Trading him before the deadline would only net a player of value in return if the Red Sox attached a prospect or ate part of Story’s salary. That scenario could be possible.

For now, Story remains at short in hopes of finding the rhythm that’s been so elusive through the first six weeks of the season.