Trevor Story offers insight on how Red Sox can overcome tough start to 2026 season

The Boston Red Sox are enduring a tough start to the 2026 season, with their record standing at 4-9 as they entered Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. While this slow beginning has been frustrating for the team and its fanbase, Trevor Story, the 33-year-old shortstop, believes that the team can turn things around with some adjustments and more consistent performances at the plate.

In an exclusive conversation with MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Story expressed his thoughts on what the Red Sox need to focus on to snap out of their early-season struggles. While the team has shown flashes of potential, it has struggled in key areas, and Story is clear on what needs to change for Boston to get back on track.

“I think everyone can kind of look in the mirror and know they need to do better,” Story said, acknowledging the team’s slow start. “I think that’s what we’ve done. We just gotta play more complete baseball. Offensively, we need to string together better at-bats. We’re not necessarily a team that’s gonna outslug people… But finding a way to manufacture runs and have better at-bats.”

The Red Sox’s struggles have been apparent on offense, and the numbers don’t lie. As of the latest games, the team is tied for 29th in home runs, with just nine round-trippers hit. Given the current lack of power on the roster, Story is focusing on other ways the team can improve offensively, particularly in terms of getting on base and executing better situational hitting.

“We’re not necessarily a team that’s going to hit a lot of home runs,” Story continued. “But finding ways to get on base, drawing walks, hitting down the gap, and improving our baserunning—that’s how we’ll be able to create more opportunities and generate runs.”

For a team like the Red Sox, which doesn’t boast the kind of power seen in other lineups across the league, improving in those areas could prove to be a game-changer. Story’s emphasis on improving the team’s on-base percentage (OBP) is a key component in their offensive turnaround. Being able to consistently get on base and extend innings will help set the stage for others in the lineup to come through in clutch moments.

It’s clear that Story, along with his teammates, is fully aware of the collective effort required to get the offense clicking. Despite the slow start, the veteran shortstop remains confident that the Red Sox are capable of finding their groove. He is optimistic that, with time and patience, the offense will begin to perform at a higher level.

The positive news for Boston is that there’s still a long season ahead, and as is often the case in baseball, a rough start doesn’t necessarily predict the entire season’s trajectory. Additionally, the Red Sox are not the only team grappling with early-season offensive struggles. Across the league, several teams have faced similar challenges, and it’s expected that as the weather warms up, so too will the bats of teams, including Boston’s.

Trevor Story is also hopeful that the improvement in offense will come as the season progresses, particularly as the team shakes off the rust from a slow start. “Once the weather starts warming up, so should our offense,” he said, referring to how many teams, including the Red Sox, traditionally perform better as the temperature rises. Historically, colder weather at the beginning of the season has made it difficult for some hitters to find their rhythm, and Story believes that Boston’s offense will follow suit as the calendar moves into the warmer months.

Despite the challenging start, there are several positive signs that the Red Sox can lean on moving forward. For one, the team’s pitching has been solid overall, with key players in the rotation stepping up and delivering quality starts. This gives the offense the opportunity to catch up and gain momentum without having to constantly battle from behind.

Furthermore, Story himself has been a steady presence for the Red Sox, and while he hasn’t been immune to the early-season struggles, his leadership in the clubhouse and on the field is invaluable. His experience and calm demeanor under pressure will be key as the team looks to get back into the win column consistently.

In terms of offense, the Red Sox are also expected to see improvement from several players as the season progresses. Players like Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, and Xander Bogaerts are more than capable of heating up at the plate. Once those veterans find their rhythm, they could provide the spark needed for the offense to come alive.

The Red Sox lineup also includes promising younger players, and their development throughout the season will be something to watch closely. If these players can step up and contribute consistently, it could make a significant difference in the team’s offensive output.

As the team focuses on making those adjustments, Story’s advice will continue to guide the Red Sox through their struggles. “We have to stay focused on the little things, and that’s where we’ll make our improvements,” he said. If the Red Sox can execute better at the plate and generate more scoring chances, it’s likely they’ll begin to turn things around sooner rather than later.

The Red Sox will also need to stay patient and remain confident in their approach. The season is far from over, and while the early struggles have been disappointing, the talent is certainly there for the team to find its stride.

For now, Boston fans are hoping that Story’s optimism proves well-founded, and that the offense will soon start delivering the results expected from a team with playoff aspirations. With the leadership of players like Story, the Red Sox still have plenty of time to make the adjustments necessary to get their season back on track.