NEW YORK — Trevor Story has landed on the injured list once again.
The Red Sox placed Story on the 10-day IL Thursday (retroactive to Sept. 19) with a left heel contusion.
Story spent much of July and August on the IL with a right hand fracture, missing 37 games.
“It’s just a little more frustrating than anything,” Story said Thursday afternoon. “I’ve just kind of been frustrated with the hand injury as well, and the heel. We’re doing all we can. Not skipping any steps and it’s not ready. It’s as simple as that.”
Story can still take swings and play defense. But running, the second baseman said, is still an issue.
Advertisement
“Obviously, that’s a big part of my game, speed,” Story said. “Just using my athleticism, jumping and running. Those are the couple things [where I kind of feel it] on the heel contusion just really putting a lot of force into that. Then I’ve got to back off a bit. I want to be able to get out there and play the way that I know I can play, and given right now and how it’s progressed, that’s not the case.”
Story and the Red Sox have not ruled out him returning this season. He would be eligible to be activated on Sept. 29.
“If I’m able to play, and think I can play, then I’ll play,” Story said. “That’s how I’ve always attacked this game, and I know how special it is.”
Despite them being separate injuries, how Story landed on the IL was similar both times.
On each occasion, the Red Sox believed the injury would not require an IL stint. But after every game that Story was not ready — the first instance after a second opinion revealed a hand fracture — it was clear the Sox had to make a move.
Advertisement
“With both of these injuries, it’s been that we were trying to be able to stay on the field,” Story said. “And that’s been my calling card, and that’s what I take a lot of pride in.”
Story has played just 94 games this year. If Story doesn’t return, it would be his fewest games in a 162-game season since being called up to the majors in 2016.
To take Story’s place on the roster, the Red Sox recalled Bobby Dalbec from Triple A Worcester.
Count Verdugo in
Alex Verdugo has committed to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic next year.
“It’s important to me, and I’ll be with Mexico,” he said. “Looking forward to it.”
Verdugo was born in Arizona but qualifies to play for Mexico because his father, Joe, was born there.
As a Dodgers prospect in 2017, Verdugo was 5 of 14 in three games for Mexico in the tournament. Mexico was 1-2 and eliminated in pool play.
“It was fun, and we should have a good team this time,” Verdugo said.
Mexico is scheduled to start WBC play March 12 against the United States at Chase Field in Phoenix.
Story has committed to play for the US, and Xander Bogaerts plans to play for the Netherlands.
Broadcast news
Friday’s game against the Yankees is on Apple TV+ at 7:05 p.m. It will be free to watch through Apple. NESN has the 1:05 p.m. game on Saturday, with ESPN carrying the 7:08 p.m. game on Sunday … Nate Eovaldi, on the IL with right shoulder inflammation, will make a rehab start for Worcester on Friday … Christian Arroyo is sick (non-COVID related). The plan is for him to rejoin the team on Friday … Prior to Thursday’s game, Yankees lefthander Wandy Peralta was placed on the 15-day IL (retroactive to Sept. 19) with left thoracic spine tightness. They also reinstated lefthander Zack Britton from the 60-day injured list and designated infielder/outfielder Miguel Andújar for assignment.
Advertisement
Julian McWilliams can be reached at julian.mcwilliams@globe.com. Follow him @byJulianMack.