The Colorado Rockies are cautiously optimistic that All-Star shortstop Trevor Story will miss only a few games, and still return this season, as they await results from extensive tests on his right forearm and elbow, according to two Rockies’ officials who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity since there have been no conclusions to the severity of his injury.
The Rockies expect to know the severity of the injury by Wednesday afternoon.
Story injured his elbow in his first inning with a throw Monday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers and left the game in the middle of his at-bat in the fourth inning with pain in his right forearm. If he were a pitcher, the immediate speculation would be Tommy John elbow surgery. Yet, the Rockies are hopeful he has a strained forearm and the UCL ligament is not torn.
If he needed Tommy John elbow surgery, he likely would be sidelined for six months and miss the start of the 2019 season.
Certainly, if the injury is serious, Story’s absence would be a major blow to the Rockies’ postseason hopes in their bid for their first division title in franchise history. They began Tuesday just one-half game behind the Dodgers in the NL West.
Story is having the finest season of his career. He’s hitting .288 with a .893 on-base-plus slugging percentage with a career-high 33 RBI while playing Gold Glove defense.
