If there’s one latest play that sums up Trevor Story’s sluggish slide defensively at shortstop, I’d argue it’s this one from Monday night time:
He doesn’t have the vary he as soon as did. It’s not so dangerous that he can’t get to this ball in any respect, but it surely’s additionally slipped sufficient in order that he can’t get to it cleanly and nonetheless end off a spotlight reel play.
Let’s cease and take into consideration the scenario for a second as a result of the context is vital. Garrett Crochet was already in bother with two runs in and the bases loaded. So, within the second, it felt like a giant defensive play to finish the inning and maintain it 2-0 might have been an enormous turning level in an eventual Crimson Sox win. In any case, Crochet was on the mound and he’s able to throwing a bunch of zeros up after a tough first body. (Now in fact that’s not even near how issues performed out, but it surely’s important to view how essential this play felt within the second.)
So right here’s Story, ranging to his left. It’s a tricky play, but it surely’s additionally one he’s made dozens of occasions over time. Solely now, he’s misplaced a few half a step and has to promote out right into a full dive to get to the ball. When he does, he’s out of place and may’t actually proceed the play. However his thoughts doesn’t settle for this. While you mix the magnitude of the second, the competitiveness of Story as an athlete, and the pleasure Story possesses understanding he’s made this play so many occasions earlier than, you get this awkward, atrocious, determined glove flip to attempt to full a possible internet gem that as a substitute ends in an error and one other run.
It’s not solely ugly, but it surely’s additionally a pure in-the-moment response from a man who has began his descent from the apex place of the infield and is aware of there’s contemporary blood respiratory down his neck able to take the spot.
So that is the purpose within the article the place I’m most likely presupposed to let you know Marcelo Mayer and Trevor Story ought to change positions, however I’m not going to do this. And in addition to, Dan Secatore already touched on that yesterday, and we just like the maintain the content material as contemporary as potential right here at Over The Monster.
As an alternative, I’m right here to let you know the present shortstop scenario is type of a multitude. On one hand, Marcelo Mayer has already surpassed Trevor Story defensively as a center infielder in most minds, and that alone ought to get the dialog began about them switching spots. Nevertheless, there’s a little bit drawback with happening that rabbit gap: I don’t belief Marcelo Mayer’s means to remain there from both a sturdiness and offensive standpoint.
Except for Mayer’s harm historical past stopping him from ever reaching 100 video games performed in a season in his profession to this point, there’s additionally that truth he’s hitting simply .188 with a .572 OPS out of the gate this yr. And, not like Story, who has a monitor report of getting higher because the season wears on, Mayer is a complete wild card and is blowing a reasonably large alternative to entrench himself within the center infield proper now. When you undergo the record of beginning pitchers the Crimson Sox have confronted lately, not solely is it a very unimpressive bunch, however they’re additionally virtually completely proper handed. So if Mayer is struggling to hit these guys, what are his at-bats going to appear to be when the Sox begin to run into lefties or simply higher high quality pitching generally? He wants to start out making a noticeable affect on that facet of the ball quickly to justify his presence within the lineup on a regular basis.
So with that, I circle again round to this being a giant mess. Sure, Mayer is a greater glove than Story, however if you transfer Story to second, it ought to most likely be a a method ticket given the sticky nature of transferring a veteran off their pedestal, and proper now there’s an actual threat of pushing Story off the place solely to search out out that Mayer can’t be at brief on a regular basis as a result of his bat is simply so unreliable. (Once more, him hitting would clear up so many issues.) In that state of affairs the place Mayer by no means finds it, you both have to start out yo-yoing Story between each positions, or give Isiah Kiner-Falefa far more begins at shortstop than any crew severe about contending must be ready to do. It’s a card the Crimson Sox would possibly ultimately must play, however I can see why they’re hesitant to place it on the desk proper now.
However wait, there’s extra!
If the primary two and half weeks of the season are any indication of what’s to come back, there’s going to be a brand new character becoming a member of Marcelo and Trevor on this story a couple of months down the road.
When you’re not acquainted, that is Franklin Arias, the Crimson Sox 20-year-old shortstop prospect at present taking part in for the Double-A Portland Sea Canines. He’s identified extra for his glove than his energy, however on Tuesday night time he knocked one out of the park the opposite technique to right-center discipline, which definitely obtained my consideration.
Then yesterday, he went deep once more!
I feel we have to underscore all the things that’s taking place right here. These weren’t low-cost dwelling runs, and never solely that, Arias has been placing up his total numbers in some fairly horrible climate situations to this point this season.
In September of 2024, I requested Roman Anthony what it was prefer to play in Portland early within the season (they’d video games snowed out that yr), and he went on at size about how a lot the expertise taught him by way of getting his physique able to play every day in hostile situations and the way he was grateful for studying that as a result of he needs to have the ability to use it taking part in video games in Boston in late October sometime.
In any case, Arias is from Venezuela, so like Anthony, who hails from south Florida, he’s getting “an expertise.” And what, he’s proven up able to go after which some. Big credit score him! In an admittedly restricted pattern dimension of 31 plate appearances, Arias is batting .542 with a 1.488 OPS on the season. However that solely will get extra spectacular when you think about the Sea Canines roster as a complete was hitting simply .198 with a .645 crew OPS coming into play on Wednesday. That alone tells me one thing regardless that I do know these numbers are coming again all the way down to Earth quickly.
Arias is the whole outlier on the Portland roster, and given how younger he’s, now we have to account for the chance that he may be within the technique of taking an enormous step ahead with the bat this spring. If that’s the case, oh boy are we going to have a dialogue about the way forward for shortstop in Boston in a handful of months. Heck, it’s even potential we may be debating between Arias and Mayer at shortstop in Worcester in a few months if Mayer doesn’t pull his head out of his tailpipe on the plate quickly.
So since I’m diving deep and dreaming method too onerous on Arias now, here are the fielding, arm and summation notes on Arias’ Sox Prospects page: (Go and verify them out should you’re even mildly within the Crimson Sox farm system)
Area: Clean actions and tender palms. Has proven strong vary and is comfy taking part in all angles when charging the ball. Assured fielder who could make troublesome performs look nearer to routine. Athleticism performs higher within the discipline and lack of foot pace doesn’t present. Constant fielder with a superb likelihood to stay at shortstop. Potential above-average defender.
Arm: Above-average arm energy. Able to making all of the throws from shortstop.Summation: Potential on a regular basis common at shortstop. Ceiling of a high quality common who offers worth together with his glove and make contact with means. Hit instrument is a standout instrument, however lack of energy and pace limits upside. Defensive profile offers him a strong ground. Excessive baseball IQ; actively seeks to be taught extra and enhance. Must get stronger and proceed to bodily mature to succeed in his potential.
I deliver all this up as a result of I wish to underscore that till this month, a lot of the pleasure for Arias was centered round his glove and never his bat. If that immediately modifications — and once more, he’s 20 so it’s not essentially the most ridiculous factor on the earth for him to simply unlock one thing everyone missed – this may be a complete sport changer.
Now to be clear, I’m not attempting to let you know his 2026 line is actual, however what does catch my consideration? Along with his efficiency on the plate yesterday, Arias how has the next profession OPS within the minor leagues total than Marcelo does, and he’s three years youthful. In a bizarre method, that’s type of a major second given the place they play, how a lot greater Mayer’s bat was profiled arising, and the collision course they appear to be on.
So sure, a battle for shortstop is brewing in Boston. I simply don’t know if it’s short-term between Mayer and Story, long-term between Mayer and Arias, or if we get some good storm state of affairs the place Story hangs on and all three of them converge within the not too distant future.
