SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A weird winter for Trevor Story began to melt away with one glorious swing Friday afternoon.
Story didn’t appear in the first four games of Cactus League play because he needed more time. A Dallas-area resident, Story spent the final days before Spring Training dealing with the winter storm that paralyzed much of Texas and endangered so many of its citizens.
“The ice storm and freezing temperatures put everything on hold back in Texas,” Story said. “We were scrambling around for heat and power. It was tough, but we were more fortunate. We were out of power for just a little bit -- had to go through one night of no heat or anything like that.
“Worrying about Spring Training was the last thing on our mind. It was about making sure our family was good and taken care of. But we did what we could and got our people together. I know a lot of people had some really tough breaks down there. Prayers out to those people. I’m still thinking about them.”
Before the storm, Story found himself oddly on the front burner of the Hot Stove. When the Rockies dealt third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals, thoughts immediately swung to Story, who is in his final year before free agency. Would he be dealt? Would there be an effort toward a multi-year contract?
Turned out it was neither. There was not even a rumor of a specific deal and the Rockies have stuck to an ambition of contending, even without Arenado. When he did arrive in Scottsdale, Story said that there had not been talk about a deal, just to make sure that the subject didn’t hang over him and the club.
If the Rockies struggle, the subject won't entirely go away until Story is either dealt or the Trade Deadline passes. But Story’s swing is part of an effort to see what happens with the Rockies in 2021 and worry about the rest later.
“Once games start, everything just kind of goes to the back burner,” Story said. "We're out there playing ball, trying to get ready for a season. And there's really not time or effort to think about anything other than that.
“And it’s fun to be with these guys.”
The start of Story’s first game was, well, odd.
Story went back for Brewers leadoff man Luis Urías' popup, but he lost sight of it. As Story stood with his glove above his head, center fielder Chris Owings caught it 15 feet away. The high sky and tough game-time sun at Salt River Fields does that to the best of them -- and according to MLB Network’s “Top 10 Shortstops Right Now,” Story is the best at his position.
Story then chased a third strike from Brewers starter Corbin Burnes in the first inning.
While Story is going to need at-bats to feel truly sharp -- manager Bud Black placed him second in the order Friday to assure that his turns came quickly -- the homer was the swing of a guy in good standing. He kept his bat back and was able to deliver a powerful swing on Zimmermann’s 84.4 mph changeup.
“I think it was a pretty good pitch, but I felt good about riding it out, trying to get it in the air to get the guy home from third, and it worked out,” he said.
Black also revealed that Story had been dealing with a “flu bug.”
“He was excited to play today,” Black said. “You could tell there was a pep in his step all day long, in early work and practice. He was ready to play.”
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