FORT MYERS, Fla. — Less than 48 hours after being introduced as the newest Red Sox, Trevor Story had another life-changing event to attend to. And he didn’t have much time to get there.
Halfway across the country, Story’s wife Mallie was ready to give birth to their first child. He got the call on Thursday night.
“My wife called me and said, ‘This thing might be happening,’” Story said.
Story didn’t sleep at all Thursday night and got on the earliest flight possible on Friday morning from Fort Myers to his home in the Dallas area. Everything was almost a blur after that.
“It was like a movie,” Story said. “I was speeding to the hospital and running through the lobby and straight to the delivery room and he came very quick after that.”
The movie had a happy ending. Story made it in time for the delivery of he and Mallie’s healthy baby boy, completing an exhausting rollercoaster week for the new Red Sox second baseman, who returned to camp at JetBlue Park on Monday after spending the weekend at home.
“It’s been definitely the craziest week of my life,” Story said Tuesday morning. “But all just amazing things that we’ll look back and say this was a great week and celebrate that. It’s been a whirlwind, just trying to hang on and get ready for the season. …
“It’s such a special moment to be there for our first born child. It was tough leaving, but my family is just so understanding of what’s going and they’ve been great about it. Now it’s time to get ready for baseball.”
Story is confident he’ll be ready for the start of the season, despite a late start with his new team and needing to leave for three days. As soon as he returned Monday, the Red Sox put Story to work in a simulated game at JetBlue Park, where he took seven at-bats – most of them against ace Nathan Eovaldi – all in consecutive innings.
The sim game went progressively well for Story. He struck out in each of his first two at-bats before drawing a walk against Matt Barnes, though he was shortly after picked off at first base. But his next at-bat, he tripled to right off Eovaldi.
“I got seven at-bats, right back-to-back consecutively, so it was good in that sense to get in the flow and just kind of getting my timing and my tempo down,” Story said. “I feel as the at-bats went on that I got better and started making better contact. I think more than anything, I feel like I’m seeing the ball well. For me at this stage, that’s really what I’m looking for. I know the hard contact and the good swings will come, so I feel good about it.”
Story isn’t concerned about his readiness for Opening Day next Thursday at Yankee Stadium, though manager Alex Cora said over the weekend that it’s likely he’ll see some off days at the start of the season as he works his way back. He’s expected to make his Red Sox spring debut on Wednesday at JetBlue Park against the Braves.
“I feel really good,” Story said. “I take a lot of pride in my offseason work and doing the right things for my body to stay ready. I think it’s going to pay big dividends now. So yeah, I think my work in the offseason is going to flow right into spring. Obviously it’s shortened, but I know I’ll be ready.”
Story said his transition to second base has been going well, too, as his new teammates like Xander Bogaerts and Christian Arroyo help him adjust to the position. Though he hasn’t been around the team long, he feels like he’s part of a special group.
“It’s a very high standard,” Story said. “I love that and I think we’re going to elevate each other each day. The more that we’re around each other, the more that’s going to grow. I think that’s what I’ve felt the most. It’s a super talented team. You just look around and see these guys and it gives me a lot of confidence.”
Though the last week has been exhausting and emotional for Story and his family, it’s been rewarding and fulfilling. He’s ready for what comes next.
“It’s a whole new chapter that’s going to be so fun,” Story said. “I can’t wait.”
