Red Sox Star Trevor Story Set to Ignite Offense: Comeback Date and Impact Revealed

Boston shortstop Trevor Story is powering the Red Sox back into the American League playoff picture with a torrid stretch that earned him AL Player of the Week honors on Monday. Scorching Bat Ignites August Surge Story slashed .391/.462/.957 over the award period, crushing three homers and four doubles while driving in eight. His most emphatic swing came Saturday at Fenway Park, when a two–run blast to left snapped a 2-2 tie against Houston and sent Boston to a 7-3 victory. The homer traveled 429 feet, his longest of the season, and pushed his OPS to .889—tops among AL shortstops since the All-Star break. Closing In on a Franchise Milestone The surge lifted Story’s season total to 25 home runs, placing him one shy of Nomar Garciaparra’s single-season Red Sox record (26) for a primary shortstop. With nearly two months left, Story is on pace to shatter that mark while also challenging Garciaparra’s club-record 96 RBI from the shortstop spot. What Changed in Story’s Swing According to hitting coach Peter Fatse, Story’s recent return to a more upright stance has shortened his path to the ball and boosted his launch angle from 13.2° in June to 18.6° in July/August. Pitchers have noticed; he’s now seeing fewer first-pitch fastballs (48 % to 41 %), yet he’s slugging .706 when he does get one. Leadership Beyond the Box Score Manager Alex Cora praised Story’s off-field impact: “He’s the heartbeat of our clubhouse right now. Guys feed off his energy.” Story’s defensive metrics back that up—he ranks second among AL shortstops in Outs Above Average (8) and first in double-play conversion rate (62 %). Fantasy and Betting Angle Fantasy managers who stashed Story through an injury-plagued 2024 are reaping rewards: he’s the No. 3 shortstop on ESPN’s Player Rater over the past 30 days. Sportsbooks have responded, moving his AL Comeback Player of the Year odds from +2500 to +600. What’s Next Boston opens a crucial nine-game road trip Friday in Seattle, where Story owns a career .947 OPS. If his bat stays hot, the Red Sox—currently 1.5 games back of the final Wild Card—could leave the Pacific Northwest in postseason position and with a new name atop their record book.