Boston Red Sox Star Out For Months After Surgery

The Boston Red Sox had a stressful offseason, to say the least. They watched the face of the franchise, Xander Bogaerts, leave in free agency, then they sweated it out for a couple of months before finally signing their other franchise icon, Rafael Devers, to a long-term deal.

Now, their big free-agent signing of the 2021 offseason, Trevor Story, is out until possibly midseason.

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

Story had what's called an "internal brace surgery" which is defined as such: "a surgical procedure that not only surgically repairs the injured ligaments but also helps protect them from reinjury after surgery." Or as Jeff Passan referred to it, a "modified Tommy John surgery."

Story faces a four-to-six month recovery, which could keep him out for as much as the entire first half of the season. In fact, chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom warned of an even bigger absence:

Bloom said Sox can't "bank on" Story playing in 2023.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) January 10, 2023

He said the that the Red Sox Sox can't "bank on" Story playing in 2023. The infielder's elbow had started bothering him in 2021, the season before the Red Sox signed him to his big free agent deal.

A big blow for the Red Sox, who were hoping to move Story back over to his natural position at shortstop (despite waning arm strength) after playing second base for them last season. Now, after losing Bogaerts, and without Story for half a season, Boston is once again a mess at the keystone.

Story had a tough start to his Red Sox career last year after signing a 6-year, $140M deal. He faced injuries and poor performance and finished with career lows of a .238 average and a .737 OPS along with 16 homers and 66 RBIs in 94 games.

Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports