Trevor Story is on the 15-day disabled list with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, and the Colorado Rockies rookie shortstop said Tuesday it’s unlikely he’ll be able to return for the rest of the season.
Story injured the thumb against the New York Mets on Saturday. The initial belief was that he jammed the thumb. Story said he hoped to return as the Rockies started a critical homestand against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
But that’s not going to happen now, and his chances of getting on the field again this regular season don’t look good. Story said Tuesday he’s going to have surgery on the thumb “within the next few days, hopefully.”
Story was then asked if there’s any possibility he comes back this year. “Usually, the recovery time is around eight weeks, I think,” he said. “So we’ll see.”
The Rockies have a little less than nine weeks remaining in the regular season. They play the Brewers in their regular-season finale Oct. 2.
Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Rockies were 4 ½ games out of the Wild Card race. Five teams are ahead of them.
Losing Story is an enormous blow to Colorado's playoff chances.
The 23-year-old rookie is hitting .272 with 21 doubles, four triples, 72 RBIs and 27 home runs. He ranks fourth in the MLB in home runs, and has slugged the most round-trippers by an NL rookie shortstop ever.
“Just very disappointing,” Story said. “Very frustrated. Just really the timing of it all, I think that’s the worst part of it. But yeah, it’s very disappointing.”
Making up for the power Story brings to the plate won’t be easy. Utility infielder Daniel Descalso figures to get most of the starts at shortstop in Story’s absence. He’s hitting .320 with two home runs and 21 RBIs this season. Christian Adames (batting .186 this year) and Rafael Ynoa, who was called up from triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday, will also will get chances.
“You can win with a two-out single,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “There are a number of ways you can win games.”
