Trevor Story hoping HR in Red Sox’ win over Braves breaks slump that ‘feels like six months’ long
Story had hit .159 in the month of May before Friday's home run.
Trevor Story had a brief reprieve from his month-long slump in the Red Sox’ 5-1 win over the Braves on Friday night.
The Red Sox shortstop took Braves starting right-handed pitcher Grant Holmes deep for a two-run home run in the fourth inning of Friday’s game. He hit Holmes’s 84 mph slider on the inside part of the strike zone 431 feet for his longest home run since he joined the Red Sox in 2022.
Story could sense that he might have gotten the monkey off his back with the home run, hoping that it’s a sign of things to come for him and the team.
“It’s been a tough month, for sure. Feels like six months, you know?” Story told reporters (via The Boston Globe‘s Pete Abraham). “Feeling better and just trying to keep it as simple as that, try to create some momentum.”
Prior to the home run, Story had hit 14-for-88 (.159) in the month of May, recording just two extra-base hits in that 23-game span. His slump actually predates May 1, though. After hitting .337 and five homers in his first 23 games this season, Story’s hit just 16-for-122 (.131) with a .355 OPS in his 31 games since April 22.
Those struggles at the plate have led some to call for Story’s benching or for the team to even designate him for assignment in order to make room for Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony. The Red Sox called up Mayer last week, but that was largely due to Alex Bregman’s injury.
Story’s fourth-inning homer didn’t give him a spark in his final two plate appearances in Friday’s game. He struck out looking both times, watching a fastball for the final strike in each at-bat.
Still, Story is remaining hopeful that his home run could’ve turned the tide on his season.
“I’m always looking for little moments to build on,” Story said. “They have been few and far between this year but hitting the ball like that can go a long way. But like I said, it’s more about the process of the at-bats and me sticking to my plan.
“The last series there in Milwaukee, not much to show for it, but just how I’m feeling in the box and the competition within the at-bats, I feel really good about.”
The Red Sox will almost certainly need Story to break out of his slump if they want to get back over .500, especially with Bregman out for the foreseeable future. Story’s struggles at the plate have also coincided with Boston’s hitting woes, averaging just 4.3 runs per game in May.
Boston’s right-handed hitters have continued to struggle as well. Outside of Alex Bregman, Boston’s right-handed hitters have hit just .244 with only 24 homers this season.
Story knows it’s imperative for the right-handed hitters on the Red Sox to produce much better than they have as of late.
“We’re all gonna step up, especially the righties, to try to cover that production,” Story said. “It’s gonna be tough, but if we can all be the best versions of ourselves or something close to it, we’ll be in good shape. I know the type of player I can be and I’m confident that’ll show up. We’ve got a lot of guys in here that can do something similar.”
This weekend might be as good a time as any for Story to get out of a slump and try to give a spark to the Red Sox’ lineup. Following Friday’s game, Story holds a .350 batting average with six home runs and a 1.176 OPS in 60 at-bats at Atlanta’s Truist Park.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com