Trevor Story, with legs ‘kind of fresh,' wants to steal more bases than ever

Boston Globe

a day ago

Story has been pushing it on the basepaths lately, and to great success. After swiping his 14th bag in the second inning, a small piece of his 4-for-5, four-RBI, three-run day, he is one shy of Jarren Duran and David Hamilton for the team lead.
Advertisement
With the season a tick past half over, the 32-year-old Story is on pace for 25 steals. That would be his most since 2018, when he totaled a career-best 27.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Already, Story has his most steals since 2021, and he is yet to be caught.
'The most important thing is being successful when I do it,' he said. 'Because I'm not just trying to be a merchant out there and take unnecessary chances. It's important to have a good percentage there.'
Trevor Story's home run on Friday was his 13th, just three shy of his best in a season with the Red Sox.
Greg Fiume/Getty
Story also hit his 13th homer in the eighth inning. With continued good health, he has a strong shot at his fourth 20/20 season.
'Baseball is fun, playing like that,' Story said. 'I know that that's what I've shown over my career. I'm happy to be doing it on a more consistent basis right now.'
Advertisement
Kelly returns, sort of
The Red Sox made an unusual move Friday when they put
Zack Kelly
on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Monday) with a right oblique strain.
Kelly exited with a tight oblique last Sunday and got an MRI on Monday. After it apparently showed nothing significant, the team optioned him to Triple A Worcester, clearing a spot for
Jordan Hicks
.
But Kelly hadn't pitched since. Because he sustained the injury while in the majors, the demotion to the minors was rescinded. While on the IL, he will continue to earn big league salary and service time.
Kelly has a 5.56 ERA in 17 appearances this year.
Yoshida's first impression
A first-hand report on
Masataka Yoshida's
recent practice at first base?
'Pretty smooth,' said
Iggy Suarez
, Triple A Worcester's bench/infield coach. 'It's pretty cool to see that. It's not in-game reps, but seeing the footwork, catching it clean, smooth throws to first base and second base, it's been pretty good. He knows it's a lot, but he can do it. I think so.
'He said it himself: In-game could be different. But … not being a normal first baseman, that's hard to do.'
The outfielder, who joined Double A Portland to continue his rehab assignment Friday, has been working out at first so that he can be an emergency option upon returning to the majors, manager
Alex Cora
said.
'There's no panic to him, which is good,' Suarez said. 'So who knows? We'll keep getting him out there, get some reps, and whenever they tell us to get him out there, we will. But again, my impression on the first two days, I'm impressed. Pretty good. Not that I expected the worst, but I feel like he can handle himself.'
Advertisement
Bregman watch continues
Might the Red Sox have
Alex Bregman
(right quad strain) back for their final pre-All-Star break homestand, which begins Monday? 'I hope so,' Cora said …
Justin Wilson
pitched for the first time since June 24, getting the final out of the eighth following
Lucas Giolito
. Wilson had been 'a little banged up,' said Cora, who also was pleased to use
Garrett Whitlock
, who handled the ninth. Whitlock had appeared in one game the previous 11 days … Washington's
Josh Bell
was credited with a single when his ground ball, hit pretty much right at Hamilton, skipped past the second baseman and into right field. The ball came off Bell's bat at 106 miles per hour … While some of the Sox toured the White House and met
President Trump
on Thursday, others visited the National Zoo, part of the team's family-trip activities. The best part? 'Just being around the kids,' Cora said.
Alex Speier of the Globe staff contributed to this report
.
Tim Healey can be reached at