Red Sox Reporter Projects Roster Changes With $140 Million Slugger Out.
The Boston Red Sox suffered a significant loss just a few games into the 2024 season as shortstop Trevor Story dislocated his shoulder and was placed on the injured list after making a diving defensive play.
As the slugger undergoes further evaluation, the Red Sox will have to prepare to be without him for significant time, given the initial severity of this latest injury and his lengthy history of missing games. Outlining the team’s options, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic projected a range of changes to the 40-man roster.
“With Story out for the foreseeable future, the Red Sox will turn to other internal options,” McCaffrey wrote. “Pablo Reyes started at shortstop on Saturday and figures to see a good amount of playing time in the immediate future with (David) Hamilton mixing in as well.”
Hamilton was recalled from Triple-A as Story was placed on the 10-day injured list. McCaffrey added that the Red Sox might turn to another minor-league option or a defensive shift as well.
“Romy Gonzalez is another utility man on the 40-man roster currently in Triple A,” she noted. “In another scenario, the Red Sox could also shift Ceddanne Rafaela to shortstop.”
Assessing the Boston Red Sox Roster Options With Shortstop Trevor Story Out
Initially, Reyes is listed as the go-to substitute for Story on the depth chart. In six big-league seasons, he has slashed .254/.315/.361 in 477 at bats and has a .967 fielding percentage in 269 innings at shortstop.
Meanwhile, the next man up now seems to be Hamilton, who connected for four hits in 33 at bats with the Red Sox in his MLB debut last season. In 393 at bats with Triple-A in 2023, he slashed .247/.363/.438.
Gonzalez has three years of big-league experience with the Chicago White Sox, slashing .222/.239/.361 in 230 career at bats, though he has just 36 career innings at shortstop. He opened his 2024 campaign with some power, slashing .375/.407/.958 with three homers and 10 RBI in 24 at bats.
