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Trevor Story will miss time after undergoing elbow surgery

Dominic Gutierrez / MLB / January 10, 2023

Trevor Story will miss time after undergoing elbow surgery

The Boston Red Sox are continuing to get hit with a curse. General Manager Chaim Bloom let Xander Bogaerts walk in free agency, and now the man set to replace him at short will be out for most of the season. Trevor Story will undergo elbow surgery that will sideline him for some time, leaving the Sox shortstop position wide open.

Jeff Passan of ESPN announced that the procedure is a modified version of Tommy John surgery. It involved Story’s UCL but has an internal brace on his right elbow. It allows quicker recovery time, but Passan mentioned it’s usually around four-to-six months.

Trevor Story underwent UCL surgery with an internal brace on his right elbow — in other words, modified Tommy John surgery with a quicker return date.

Generally speaking, players miss four to six months following the surgery.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 10, 2023

Up to six months could have Story out until July. He’s had previous injury issues, specifically his elbow in 2021 with the Rockies. While his elbow wasn’t an issue in 2022, Story only played 94 games with the Red Sox after suffering multiple injuries, such as his hand and heel. In those 94 games, Story hit .238 with 16 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a .737 OPS. It was his first year of his six-year contract with the Red Sox.

Story moved to second base last season because of Bogaerts, but because he’s gone Story was set to take over shortstop. But factoring Bogaerts out, Story’s elbow has raised concern, which was another deciding factor to move him to second. Peter Gammons of the Boston Globe brought up the Red Sox concern for his throwing issues before they agreed to a contract. But Bloom insisted that Story could play short regardless of the arm issues.

With Spring Training set to begin in a little over a month, Bloom will have to scramble to find a middle infielder. They have Kiké Hernández who can play both short and second, as well as Chrisitan Arroyo. But neither will be able to produce what Bogaerts and Story did, turning the Red Sox into free agency. Elvis Andrus and Jose Iglesias are the best options left on the market. Regardless, it will still put the Red Sox in a hole before the season even begins.

Bloom got one thing right when he locked up Rafael Devers, but he’s done more bad than good. Don’t expect him to be the GM after this season, and the Red Sox are looking at another disappointing season.