Rob Maaddi, FISM News
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Trevor Story’s first season with the Boston Red Sox has been filled with ups and downs.
Playing against the New York Yankees in front of a national television audience on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, Story provided the key hit to propel the Red Sox to a comeback victory over their biggest rival.
Story drove a bases-clearing double high off the Green Monster in left-center field to give the Red Sox a 10-6 lead in the seventh inning en route to an 11-6 victory. The Red Sox won the final two games of a four-game series against the American League East-leading Yankees.
Second-place Boston is 14 games behind New York, which has the best record in the major leagues, but the Red Sox are right in the mix for a wild-card spot.
They’ll need Story to continue delivering clutch hits to help them reach the postseason.
“We’re looking to finish strong,” Story said. “Everybody knows the division we’re in. Everybody is playing well. That’s how we like it. We want to play the best teams.”
Story’s first taste of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry has lived up to the hype.
“Intense,” Story said. “Back and forth, a lot of good baseball played. It’s Yankees-Red Sox and it doesn’t get much bigger than that. It’s fun. Playing these games at Fenway, the attention is high but that’s part of the reason why I came here. I want to play in these type of games.”
The Red Sox signed the two-time All-Star shortstop to a $140 million, six-year deal in the offseason and moved him to second base for the first time in his seven-year career because they already had Xander Bogaerts at shortstop.
Story, who spent his first six seasons with the Colorado Rockies, struggled in his first two months with the Red Sox. He was batting under .200 through May 8 and didn’t hit his first home run until three days later, but then went on a hitting tear, smacking seven homers in a stretch of seven games.
He’s batting .225 with 15 homers and leads the team with 58 RBIs. Story’s transition defensively from shortstop to second base has been smooth.
“I know it’s been a grind for him but he doesn’t take a play off,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters. “Right now, I can say that probably he’s the best defensive second baseman in the big leagues.”
Story burst on the big-league scene in 2016 when he hit seven home runs in first six games. He was an All-Star in 2018 when he batted .291 with a career-high 37 homers and 108 RBIs. He made the All-Star team again in 2019 and finished with a .294 average, 35 homers, and 85 RBIs.
The Red Sox made a bold decision to go over the luxury tax threshold by signing Story. As a result, he’s been under the microscope in Boston and his performance is heavily scrutinized by the Red Sox faithful fans.
Story leans on his Christian faith, which helps him handle the intense pressure surrounding him.
“Through the highs and lows, there’s always one thing constant,” Story said on Faith On The Field Show during his time with the Rockies. “That’s my relationship with God. It’s certainly not perfect but that’s the thing I fall back on and it’s the most important thing to me.”
Story grew up going to church and had spiritual leaders in his life, especially his grandparents.
“My grandfather and grandmother were the two that led me to Christ,” Story said. “My grandfather is my hero. He passed away a [few] years ago, but I just keep that thought with me. I just try to mimic him and portray the things that he taught me.”
Story proudly proclaims his faith on social media. In his Twitter bio, he says, “Through Christ all things are possible.”