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Why Red Sox’ Alex Cora likes about Trevor Story batting second in lineup
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- Why Red Sox’ Alex Cora likes about Trevor Story batting second in lineup
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Alex Cora's Red Sox lineup against the Blue Jays on Sunday could be very similar to what his Opening Day lineup looks like on March 26 in Cincinnati .
Here it is:
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Trevor Story SS
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Jarren Duran LF
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Wilyer Abreu RF
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Caleb Durbin 3B
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Isiah Kiner-Falefa 2B
"Just trying to win this league (Grapefruit League) so I just felt that's a good way to set it up," manager Alex Cora joked at JetBlue Park on Sunday. "But yeah, it's something I envision. And it just happened that for the first time in years what you see early is what you're probably going to see on Opening Day."
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That means Trevor Story is a strong candidate to open the season in the second spot, following leadoff hitter Roman Anthony .
Story started in the No. 2 hole in his final 10 games of the 2025 regular season. He also batted there in all three of Boston 's AL Wild Card Series games against the Yankees .
Analytics show that a team's best hitter should bat second. Story batted .294 with a .339 on-base percentage, .497 slugging percentage and .836 OPS over his final 84 games last season. Still, for the full the season, he posted a .308 on-base percentage, tied for 111th among qualified major league hitters. His .333 slugging percentage ranked 72nd among qualified major leaguers.
What does Cora like about Story in that spot?
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"What he did last year, the last three months, he was one of the best hitters in the big leagues," Cora said. "And it's not about earning or he deserves whatever. But the guy stole 30 bags, he drove in 90-something runs, hit 20-something homers. He was amazing hitting the ball the other way. And if that's the case, he's going to be surrounded by lefties, which at one point, they're probably going to bring a lefty for Roman. He'll face a lefty and he can cash in."
Story likes the idea of batting second.
"It's kind of where I've hit most of my career is two," he said. "Last year was kind of four or five. So either way. I'm comfortable really in those spots, two, three, four, five. And I think Roman setting the table is going to be huge. And then with JD protecting me, I like that."
Story thinks the Red Sox are "a team that can win in different ways."
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"An offense that can create with speed, stretch singles into doubles, put the ball in the gap, hit home runs, too," he said. "Obviously, Willson helps us a lot with that. He hits the ball super hard. Just been one of the most consistent, good hitters since I've been in the big league. So pumped to add that to the mix."
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