Alex Cora ‘Truly Believing’ Injured Red Sox Star Will Return This Season

BOSTON — Red Sox star infielder Trevor Story is continuing on his path of an improbable comeback this season by taking live batting practice Monday.

It might seem like a small step, but not to Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

“It’s a huge step. It’s huge,” Cora said prior to Friday’s game against the Houston Astros. “Where we at right now, I’m truly believing he’s going to be part of this. I just don’t want to give you a timeline and all that because I don’t want to put pressure on him. But he’s putting pressure on us, which is the great thing about this.”

The Red Sox only have 48 games left in the regular season after their series opener with the Astros, but it seems that will be enough time to get Story back on the field in the big leagues. Story believes he has a “good shot” at returning, too.

Story had shoulder surgery in mid-April after injuring the area in Boston’s eighth game of the season. The last hurdle for Story will come in the batter’s box to make sure he feels good swinging the bat and to build up more strength. He’s done some soft toss already with Cora saying he’s been swinging for “a while” now.

As far as fielding, Story is more than ready to go from that standpoint.

“He could play nine tomorrow defensively,” Cora said.

Story’s return this season seemed very unlikely when the injury first happened, but he’s worked his way back to give himself a shot at playing. He could lengthen Boston’s lineup and give them a Gold Glove-caliber infielder at shortstop.

Cora was ready to move forward this season without Story, but when the Red Sox played in Colorado for their second series after the All-Star break, it got on the skipper’s radar that it was probable Story could play again this year.

“He went to the office and we talked about it,” Cora said. “He feels really good. He turned the corner and after that it’s been almost perfect. We know there’s going to be a setback at one point and we’re going to slow it down, but so far so good.”