DENVER _ No one envisioned Trevor Story opening his big-league career like he did.
And no one would wish this kind of ending on him or the Rockies, either.
Story, the star shortstop, will undergo thumb surgery this week, he said Tuesday. Story said the usual recovery time is about eight weeks, meaning his season is likely over.
"Very disappointed, very frustrated," Story said a few hours before the Rockies host the Dodgers in a series opener at Coors Field. "The timing of it all is the worst part of it."
Story leads the National League with 27 home runs, the most by a rookie shortstop in NL history, and was on pace to smash the home run record for a rookie shortstop (30 by Nomar Garciaparra in 1997). How he's handled a debut thick with distractions might be the most impressive aspect of his rookie season. One year after Troy Tulowitzki was traded to Toronto and during a season in which Jose Reyes summoned headlines for the wrong reasons, Story emerged as one of the best tales in baseball.
"I feel bad for Trevor because he was doing some really special things," manager Walt Weiss said. "I mean, historical things."
The Rockies found their shortstop of the future, but they will lose him just as the club has crept within 4.5 games of a wild-card spot in the National League.
"It hurts my heart for him. He's having a great year, and you know good things were going to happen still," star third baseman Nolan Arenado said in the clubhouse next to Story's locker Tuesday. "But he works hard and he's going to bounce back."
General manager Jeff Bridich said the Rockies will operate with a platoon of Daniel Descalso, Rafael Ynoa and Christian Adames at shortstop. Descalso is on the lineup card Tuesday, when Rockies right-hander Jon Gray (7-4, 3.94 ERA) matches up with Cheyenne Mountain graduate Brandon McCarthy (2-1, 2.39) of the Dodgers.
"We have been playing incredibly good baseball" during a 12-5 start to the second half of the season, Bridich said.
That's the best mark in the majors after the All-Star break.
