‘That tells me a lot’: Alex Cora impressed by Trevor Story’s response to early-season adversity

"Hopefully this is the beginning of something cool for him."

Trevor Story during the Red Sox series against the Brewers. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

April 8, 2026 | 10:55 AM

3 minutes to read

A Red Sox turnaround? Despite snapping a three-game losing streak on Tuesday in a 3-2 win over the Brewers, the Red Sox remain in last place in the American League East.

Still, changes in fortune can happen incrementally over the course of a 162-game MLB season. And looking at the long-term view, Trevor Story’s plate discipline could be a good anemometer for a team that may find the wind at its back soon enough.

Having started the season slowly (Story hit just .111 with a .333 OPS in his first nine games), the 33-year-old simply wanted to stay in the lineup. In the last two games, he’s produced two hits that drove in multiple runs. His two-run double on Tuesday was critical in Boston’s eventual victory.

“Last night he walked into my office,” manager Alex Cora told reporters, per MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “We’re watching the [NCAA championship] game, the basketball game. And he’s looking for me. He’s like, ‘You got a moment?’ I’m like, ‘What do you got?’ ‘I’m playing tomorrow.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, you are.’”

Story had heard from teammate Isiah Kiner-Falefa that he was set to play on Tuesday, leaving the Red Sox shortstop unsure if the utility man was being rotated in to give him a day off.

“Izzy told him he was playing, so he thought he was going to get a day off,” Cora explained. “I mean, that tells me a lot, where he’s at. So, it happens quickly with him. Last year, we saw how he turned it around after the Milwaukee series. He took off. Yesterday, he put together good at-bats. Even today, the strikeout in the first inning, 3-2 count.

“So hopefully this is the beginning of something cool for him,” Cora added.

Story similarly struggled out of the gate in 2025. And, as Cora referenced, he turned it around following a strong showing against Milwaukee in May. Prior to that point (as noted by MassLive’s Christopher Smith), Story had produced a .577 OPS. After that point, he totaled an .830 OPS in the remaining 103 games.

For a Boston team struggling to produce enough runs each game, anything close to that kind of a turnaround would be a welcomed development.

Trevor Story doubles and the Red Sox put up two in the sixth! pic.twitter.com/Nzt6mJgBVD
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 8, 2026

Trivia: Jaylen Brown became the eighth Celtics player to score at least 2,000 points in a single season. Can you name the other seven?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: Their initials are LB, PP, JH, JT, SJ, KH, IT

Scores and schedules:

The Celtics defeated the Hornets 113-102 at TD Garden on Tuesday night. Boston will play the Knicks in New York on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The Red Sox got a win, beating the Brewers 3-2 on Tuesday at Fenway Park. The two teams play again this afternoon at 1:35 p.m.

The Bruins lost to the Hurricanes 6-5 in overtime, and will host the Lightning on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

The Fleet routed the Goldeneyes in Edmonton on Tuesday by a 5-1 final score. Boston will play the Montréal Victoire at TD Garden Saturday at 7 p.m.

Also on Saturday, the Revolution play D.C. United at Gillette Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

Something new: Utah unveiled its new Zamboni, the “Zammoth.”

INTRODUCING, THE ZAMMOTH!!! 🤩

📺: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnH pic.twitter.com/b4fKKlXPde
— NHL (@NHL) April 8, 2026

On this day: In 1970, the Bruins defeated the Rangers 8-2 in Game 1 of the quarter-final matchup. Phil Esposito tallied a hat-trick, while Bobby Orr (two goals, one assist) and Wayne Cashman (one goal, two assists) notched three points apiece.