When Trevor Story suffered a fractured shoulder back in early April, the expectation was the two-time All-Star would miss the rest of the season. He’s spent the past four months since then rehabbing and recovering, but over the past few weeks Story has turned the corner, and his progress has been so encouraging he’s begun floating the possibility he could still return after all.

“As bad as it was in the beginning it’s been that good lately,” Story said. “We’re not taking that off the table, there’s a chance of a return. Obviously we’re going to be smart about it and not put myself in any risk, but we’re going to listen to my body and right now it’s saying that we have a chance.”

Do the Red Sox share that assessment? Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said they won’t put any pressure on Story to see if they can get him back for a potential playoff push, but the very fact he’s suggesting he could play is music to the club’s ears.

“The fact he is verbalizing that he isn’t closing the door is probably the best sign that we can have that he’s feeling good, he’s happy with the progress he’s making. We’re a better team with him on it and active, so if he’s not closing the door I’m certainly not going to,” Breslow said. “It would be a huge boost, don’t want to put undue pressure on that but I know he’s really excited about the progress he’s made over the last month or so, it feels like he’s really turned the corner and he’s out doing baseball activities and fielding ground balls.

“It would be a great outcome for us,” he continued. “But if it doesn’t work out just the fact that he’s feeling so good about the progress when he’s out here doing baseball activities is a great sign.”

Story has been out of his shoulder brace for roughly two months now, and earlier this week he began taking ground balls for the first time. He’s also started taking light practice swings and hopes to keep building up strength until he reaches a point where a rehab assignment and a possible return to game action become realistic.

In the meantime, he’ll remain with the team and is excited to be back in the thick of things after spending most of the past few months away on the west coast.

“It’s good to be back doing baseball stuff,” Story said.

Injury updates

Triston Casas (torn cartilage in ribcage) has begun taking batting practice indoors, and Breslow said they believe he could be ready to begin a rehab assignment within the next week.

“He’s feeling good, taking swings at full intensity,” Breslow said. “So our hope, our expectation, is he’ll be engaged here soon.”

In other injury news, right-handers Chris Martin (right elbow inflammation), Justin Slaten (right elbow inflammation) and Liam Hendriks (Tommy John rehab) have all had a good couple of days, Breslow said, and Hendriks also just threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday afternoon.

Second baseman Vaughn Grissom (right hamstring strain) is also continuing his rehab work, and Friday he started for the WooSox at designated hitter.