Article: Trevor Story's Offensive Output Places Him Among Red Sox Greats

[Alex Mayes]

Welcome to part three of my Trevor Story Apology Tour. If you missed my open letter to the shortstop, or where I said that him opting in would be a good thing, feel free to read them here and here, respectively. Today though, I wanted to highlight just how incredible of a season Story is having now that he’s fully healthy in Boston. He scuffled early in the season, but since being given a few days off to rediscover himself, Trevor Story has been one of, if not the best hitter on the team. There are flaws in his offensive approach—some that still drive fans insane when they appear—but he’s been fairly consistent at the plate and a guaranteed runner in scoring position when he steals bases.

Story currently leads the team in both home runs and stolen bases, with 24 and 28, respectively. Having one person lead the team in those two major offensive categories was interesting enough that I decided to dig back through the last 50 years of club history and see just how often that had been done. Before Story, it had been done five times by a Red Sox player since 1975. Let’s take a look at how Story’s season stacks up against the other five legendary names on this list.

To set our bar, here is how Trevor Story is performing this season (as of 9/13/25): .261/.308/.440 with 24 HR, 28 SB, 91 RBIs, 103 wRC+, 3.1 WAR, 27.4% strikeout, 5.2% walk, and a .331 BABIP.

The most recent example of one person on the Red Sox leading in both home runs and stolen bases was back in 2017, when Mookie Betts ended the season with 24 home runs and 26 stolen bases. Betts delivered 102 RBIs that season to go along with a 107 wRC+, 4.6 WAR, a .268 BABIP, and an 11.1 K% and 10.8 BB%. His slash line for the '17 season was .264/.344/.459. On the surface, Story is set up for a similar season in '25. As long as he stays healthy, Story should hit more homers this season, and has already stolen more bases. Where Story can’t compete with Betts, though, is in strikeout and walk rate. Anyone who has watched Story knows he’s going to go down swinging more often than not, and he struggles to work walks at a decent clip. A point-and-a-half jump in WAR is likely unattainable as a result (also because of Betts' sterling defense in the outfield).

Following Betts, we have another outfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, in 2011. Ellsbury slashed .321/.376/.552 that season to go along with 32 home runs, 39 stolen bases, 105 RBIs, a 150 wRC+, 9.5 WAR, 13.4 K%, 7.1 BB%, and a .336 BABIP. Ellsbury finished second in AL MVP voting to Justin Verlander that year. 2011 was the year that Ellsbury established himself as a premier center fielder. There’s absolutely zero chance Story gets anywhere close here. Ellsbury was a far more disciplined hitter than Story, and the numbers reflect that. Ellsbury tore the cover off the ball that year, and even though Story has been dependable, his .261 average is a far cry from .321. All that being said this version of Story is what the Red Sox were hoping to get when they originally signed him; comparing his campaign to one of the greatest regular seasons in franchise history is a bit unfair.

After Ellsbury, we have to jump back to 2000 when Carl Everett finished the season with 34 home runs and 11 stolen bases to lead the team. He slashed .300/.373/.587 with 108 RBIs while posting a 135 wRC+, 4.7 WAR, 20.1 K%, 9.3 BB%, and a .325 BABIP. In terms of strikeout percentage, this is the closest we’re going to get to Story’s current run. You can cherry pick stats to compare Everett and Story, but on the whole, Story’s current season isn’t as much of an offensive juggernaut as Everett was in 2000. Sure, Story is lapping him on stolen bases, but that era of Red Sox baseball wasn’t known to be loaded with speed like the current version of the team is. Story may catch him in RBIs though; 108 isn’t unattainable if Story keeps mashing homers for the remainder of the season.

Ellis Burks in 1990 checks in next on the list. Burks slashed .296/.349/.486 with 21 home runs, nine stolen bases, and 89 RBIs with a 127 wRC+, 3.3 WAR, 12.8 K%, 7.5 BB%, and .314 BABIP. While a drastically different game was played in 1990, this is the lowest stolen base number we have on this list, although not by much. It’s tough to make comparisons here because Burks’ slash line will be unattainable for Story this season, but you could argue this version of Story is far more valuable now. Story’s WAR could creep up above 3.3, and his BABIP is higher than that of Burks, though you’d love to see Burks’ strikeout rate swap with Story’s.

Finally, we must jump back 50 years to Jim Rice in 1975. That year, Rice slashed .309/.350/.491 with 22 home runs, 10 stolen bases, 102 RBIs, a 126 wRC+, 2.9 WAR, 19.9% K%, 5.9% BB%, and a .355 BABIP. We’re talking incredibly different players here, and a game now that puts far more focus on strength and speed than in 1975, but Story is running a similar walk rate to Rice. Rice is considered one of the best hitters in the history of the team and Trevor Story will (likely) never hold such a distinction, but being in such close company to someone of Rice’s caliber is sure to be a feather in the shortstop's cap. There were reports early in the season that Rice was told to stop talking to hitters in spring training, but Story is doing his best impression on the field this year. While Story has more pop in his bat, Rice was the far more consistent hitter. Working with someone like Rice could push Story into the next tier of hitter next season.

Trevor Story is joining some Red Sox legends with the current path he’s on. Should he continue to hit like he has been, and knock the strikeouts down some, he should finish the season first on the team in both home runs and stolen bases. That’s something no one expected of him going into the season. The Red Sox are hoping to make a deep postseason run this year, and if this version of Trevor Story is sticking around, he is going to be a driving force on offense come October.

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[moonslav59]

Imagine placing a parlay on Story leading the team in HRs and RBIs, this year? Can you say, "Buy me a mansion!?" Now, add SBs (28-23 over Duran and NO CS!)

The only bummer part of his 2025 portfolio is the .306 OBP. His D is not what it used to be, but it's still a plus, to me.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

Hyperbole.  That's a word used when something is exaggerated.  This story fits the description.

Most fans simply want to ask where he's been for 3 years, and will he EVER play at this level again for BOS?  Everyone is happy that Story started to earn his money in year 4 of his 6-year contract but should anyone care that he's done this just one time for BOS? 

This is a perfect example of the issues with modern fans.  Measuring things is not the focus of baseball.  Consistent performance and winning should be the focus and frankly the Story one time surge has no significance whatsoever except that it's yet another irrelevant set of data.  

[moonslav59]

Here is a good trivia question: what Red Sox player had the highest fWAR season at SS for the Sox since 1970?

SINGLE SEASON best season at SS.

[moonslav59]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

Here is a good trivia question: what Red Sox player had the highest fWAR season at SS for the Sox since 1970?

SINGLE SEASON best season at SS.

Hint:

1. ________________ 8.2 in 1995 (He also had the 9th best in '93 and the 14th best in '94)

#2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10: Nomar (7.6 was his highest in '00)

#6, 7, 11. 12, 15 and 19 Bogey (6.0 was his highest in '19 & '22)

#16 Stephen Drew in '13 at 3.6

#17 Rick Burleson in '76 at 3.5 (also #20 in '79)

#18 Jody Reed in '88 at 3.4 (also #21 in '89)

#22 Trevor Story in 2025 at 3.0 and counting.

Number 22 in last 51 years. He might get to #21 or #22 with a strong finish. In this context: not so great.

[Maxbialystock]

While I agree the OP is a little over the top, I do think we should note that Story is tied for the team lead in games played and leads in rbi's, runs scored and stolen bases>  He has maintained an OPS above .800 in June, July, August, and September, He also leads all MLB shortstops in both assists and putouts.  So he's a very important cog in the Sox 2025 machine.  

He is not, however, a superstar.  His WAR for those 144 games is just 3.7.  He cannot stem the bleeding in the offense with Devers gone and Anthony and Abreu on the IL and Bregman in a slump--despite his .883 OPS in September.    We miss all those good bats.  But guess what?  We would miss Story just as much as any of them.  

 

 

[mvp 78]

I think this has more to say about how inept the lineup has been with hitting HR.

Devers: 31 HR

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

20 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Hint:

1. ________________ 8.2 in 1995 (He also had the 9th best in '93 and the 14th best in '94)

#2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10: Nomar (7.6 was his highest in '00)

#6, 7, 11. 12, 15 and 19 Bogey (6.0 was his highest in '19 & '22)

#16 Stephen Drew in '13 at 3.6

#17 Rick Burleson in '76 at 3.5 (also #20 in '79)

#18 Jody Reed in '88 at 3.4 (also #21 in '89)

#22 Trevor Story in 2025 at 3.0 and counting.

Number 22 in last 51 years. He might get to #21 or #22 with a strong finish. In this context: not so great.

I think he moved to 3B but isn't Rico.

[Kimmi]

I'm always on board with a feel good thread about Trevor Story.  I'm happy for him that he's finally able to contribute to the team like he knows he's able to do.  While I'm at it, kudos to Cora for sticking with him when he was going through that very horrendous month of May.  

[moonslav59]

7 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I think he moved to 3B but isn't Rico.

In 1995, John Valentin played only SS. By '97 and '98 he was at 2B and 3B and no SS at all. (Nomar took over SS.)

[Alex Mayes]

15 hours ago, Kimmi said:

I'm always on board with a feel good thread about Trevor Story.  I'm happy for him that he's finally able to contribute to the team like he knows he's able to do.  While I'm at it, kudos to Cora for sticking with him when he was going through that very horrendous month of May.  

As the driver of the DFA Story bus earlier this season, I enjoy writing these pieces that highlight just how good he's been this season. Thanks for the kind words!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

21 minutes ago, Alex Mayes said:

As the driver of the DFA Story bus earlier this season, I enjoy writing these pieces that highlight just how good he's been this season. Thanks for the kind words!

I was wrong about the never-mending Story, and I'm glad because all the other full-timers got hurt -- except Duran, who I was wrong about two years ago, and Rafaela (who not only will keep his job, but be honored for it in the offseason).

I was also wrong about Chapman, and Giolito, and Sale, and Buehler.

I wasn't wrong about Mayer and Anthony deserving to make the team before Campbell, but I kinda wish I was, since he's the only one left healthy enough to finish the season...

[moonslav59]

15 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I was wrong about the never-mending Story, and I'm glad because all the other full-timers got hurt -- except Duran, who I was wrong about two years ago, and Rafaela (who not only will keep his job, but be honored for it in the offseason).

I was also wrong about Chapman, and Giolito, and Sale, and Buehler.

I wasn't wrong about Mayer and Anthony deserving to make the team before Campbell, but I kinda wish I was, since he's the only one left healthy enough to finish the season...

Had Mayer and Anthony started the season on the big club, they would not have gotten hurt.

Campbell would have been called up after the Devers trade and would be hitting .775, right now, as our 1Bman.

The butterfly flapped its wings.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Had Mayer and Anthony started the season on the big club, they would not have gotten hurt.

Campbell would have been called up after the Devers trade and would be hitting .775, right now, as our 1Bman.

The butterfly flapped its wings.

Anthony would've strained his oblique a lot earlier, like in June -- like Shea Langeliers did -- then recovered by summer to hit 30 home runs, like Langeliers has since then.

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Anthony would've strained his oblique a lot earlier, like in June -- like Shea Langeliers did -- then recovered by summer to hit 30 home runs, like Langeliers has since then.

Maybe not at all, too!