The Boston Red Sox got some brutal news on the injury front ahead of Saturday night's game in Atlanta against the Braves, as veteran shortstop Trevor Story landed on the 10-day injured list with a sports hernia. Could interim manager Chad Tracy turn to Marcelo Mayer to return to his natural position and take over short in Story's absence?
Update on Story's statusStory met with the media ahead of Saturday night's game in Atlanta and discussed his injury, telling MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo that he has been dealing with the hernia since spring training. "A couple of weeks in, just felt it. Tried to grind through it and just got to the point where I might need to take a timeout and evaluate some things a little further," Story told Cotillo. "Obviously, I haven’t been able to really move like myself out there, so it kind of built up on me," he continued.
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Trevor Story has been grinding through the injury that sent him to the IL since spring training 🏥
— NESN (@NESN) May 16, 2026
"Now, it's just a matter of how severe and what the solution is... Hopefully, it's a case where I don't have to get surgery." pic.twitter.com/lyvP2JiH9Z
The 33-year-old Story said he is still evaluating all his options, but surgery remains on the table to address the hernia, which would keep him out of the lineup for 6 to 10 weeks. "Hopefully, it's a case where I don't have to get surgery," he said.
Who will play short in Story's stead?Tracy has a litany of options to cover shortstop in the absence of Story. Andruw Monasterio got the start on Saturday night in Atlanta, his second in a row. Veteran utility man, and the 2020 Gold Glove award winner at third base, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, along with the recently recalled Nick Sogard, who took Story's place on the Red Sox active roster, are also options.
MARCELO CLUTCHES UP 🚀
— NESN (@NESN) May 16, 2026
Tie ball game in the 7th 🤝 pic.twitter.com/cySv0DGSi9
Boston also has their presumed shortstop of the future on their roster in Marcelo Mayer, who has played exclusively second base in 2026. Both Tracy and former manager Alex Cora have pushed back against using Mayer at short, wanting him to get comfortable at second base while settling into life as a major league player. Could that notion now change in the absence of Story?
According to Cotillo, Boston has at least "kicked around" the idea of moving the 23-year-old back to his natural position, with Tracy telling reporters that such a move would depend on how long Story will be out.
According to SoxProspects.com, Mayer profiles as a "potential above-average defender at short for the foreseeable future," with a "plus arm, plenty for shortstop. Confident in his arm and able to make all the throws with plenty of zip."
For now though, Tracy and the Red Sox will await the decision from Story.
The Red Sox are 18-26 and in last place in the American League East.
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