FORT MYERS, Fla. – With the Red Sox evaluating second and third base options for the second consecutive spring training, Trevor Story is the man in the middle once again.
Taking questions for the first time since he reported to camp earlier this week, the veteran shortstop made his wishes clear with a statement that was diplomatic, but firm.
“Ideally you’d like to get a full spring camp in with the infield unit as we have, just to go over communication style and what guys like,” Story said as he stood in front of his locker. “And those conversations are gonna be had, obviously, in the front office, and those guys are the ones that are making that decision. But yeah, hopefully sooner rather than later. And I think it’s just better for everybody.”
The center of infield competition centers around Marcelo Mayer, Caleb Durbin, and Romy Gonzalez. Mayer and Durbin are working out at both spots. Gonzalez is behind the group after a setback in his recovery from last season’s shoulder ailment.
Mayer, 23, came up through the Red Sox system as a shortstop, but primarily manned third base in his rookie season. Called up to replace an injured Alex Bregman last May 24, Mayer played 248.2 innings at third (39 games), 57 innings at second, and three innings at short. The Red Sox are confident Mayer can be an everyday player at any of the three, though his injury history remains a cause for concern.
Durbin, who turns 26 next week, came up through the minor leagues as a second baseman, but like Mayer, was blocked at his primary position and spent the bulk of his rookie season last year playing third for the Milwaukee Brewers. Durbin covered the hot corner for 1,060.2 innings (131 games), as well as 43.1 innings at second and four at shortstop.
Other infield options in big-league camp include Kristian Campbell, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler.
The newly-signed Isiah Kiner-Falefa is slated for a super-utility role, and can play nearly every position on the field. He’s slated to sub in on Story’s rest days.
Elbow and shoulder surgeries limited Story to a combined 69 games between 2023-24, but he’s now coming off a 157-game season, which matches the career-high he set in 2018. He batted .263 with a .741 OPS, 29 doubles and 25 home runs, and ranked in the 98th MLB percentile in Baserunning Run Value, and 82nd percentile in sprint speed.
Yet despite the team’s depth and versatility, Story isn’t interested in taking more breaks this season, something manager Alex Cora suggested the Red Sox will attempt, though he knows his shortstop will continue to push back.
“I understand the question and understand kind of the load management style of it, but yeah for me, I still feel as strong as I have at any time in my career,” Story said. “Getting 115-plus games has kind of been my goal every single season, and being able to do that means a lot to me.”
“I think it’s a standard to be set for, kind of, the young guys too, like you don’t really take days off,” Story continued. “I don’t know if that’s the ‘old head’ in me or what, but I think that’s a mindset that you have to have in this game, because it starts now, and hopefully you’re into November.”
Story enters this season as the position players’ most veteran leader by far. It’s a role he previously shared with Alex Bregman and Rob Refsnyder, who both departed in free agency this winter.
“It’s tough losing two guys like that,” Story said. “Those guys are great people, great teammates, great players, and they brought a lot to our team. So we have to figure out a way to make leadership go around a little bit, and I think some of these guys have to step up.”
“I guess it’s a good problem to have when you have guys that are coming up and they have to kind of grow into the player and the leader that you expect them to be,” he continued. “I’m always happy to be the one kind of leading that charge.”
The 33-year-old shortstop has one rule for his younger teammates, who began calling him ‘Unc’ last year. (Slang for ‘uncle,’ and used to describe men who are getting old or behaving in old-fashioned and out-of-touch ways.)
“I feel great, I feel amazing,” Story said with a chuckle. “I just, I let them know that you can’t let ‘Unc’ beat you in a foot race, but that’s happened.”
New Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin models his game after franchise legend
