Rafael Devers took four at-bats during an intrasquad game at JetBlue Park on Thursday afternoon.
Following the game, Devers wanted to get some things off his chest and speak with the media.
The slugger who has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut has been getting ready for Opening Day, albeit on the backfields and in the batting cage, is prepared to be the designated hitter.
“It’s not my decision. I don’t call the shots around here,” he said through a team translator. “I’ll go out there and do what I need to do.”
Devers said he spoke to Alex Cora and Craig Breslow a few weeks ago about his role.
“We spoke already, and I'm good to do whatever they want me to do,” Devers said. “I'm here to help. I’ve already spoken with them about that, and they know where I stand, but I’m just ready to play.”
Devers is entering his second season of a 10-year, $313.5-million contract he signed with the club prior to the 2024 season. After putting pen to paper, the left-handed slugger was under the impression he was going to be the team’s third baseman for many years.
“It was definitely discussed when I signed that I [would] play the position for a long time,” Devers said of his spot at third back on Feb. 17. “I don’t know what caused the change, but I know I work really hard on defense.”
When Devers signed his deal, Chaim Bloom was leading the Red Sox front office, and Cora made very clear, there's new decision-makers for Boston.
“Different people here, right?” said Cora regarding Devers’ comments about his long-term deal with the Red Sox. “There’s a different leader here. Chaim is in St. Louis now.
Devers’ comments and tone have drastically changed since his first press conference of spring training. At the time, he was clear and concise that he was a third baseman and that’s where he expects to play.
“Third base is my position,” Devers said that day to reporters. “It’s what I’ve played. I don’t know what their plans are. I know we had a conversation. I made it clear, kind of, what my desires were, and whatever happens from here, I don’t know.”
It seems on the surface that Devers and the Red Sox are finally on the same page for the first time in months.
Since the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, they've kept it close to the vest on where he would play. All spring, the two-time World Series champion has seen time at third base. It has been speculated that at the time of his signing, he would play second base, clearing the way for Devers to remain at third base. There's a case to be made that Bregman, a Gold Glove winner and two-time All-Star, should stay at his natural position, as he is a far superior defender at the hot corner.
Last year, Devers finished with -9 defensive runs saved and a -2.6 WAR on defense while making 12 errors, the fewest he’s had since 2017, according to FanGraphs. On the flip side, Bregman had six defensive runs saved and a defensive WAR of 8.1.
(GETTY IMAGES DANIELLE PARHIZKARAN)
Devers confirmed he would be in the lineup on Opening Day in Texas.
“I just want to help the team win,” Devers said. “Whatever position I’m playing, I always take these things as a competition and a way to get better. That’s just how I see it. I’m just ready to help the team win.”
Cora gave a glimpse at what his Opening Day lineup could look like earlier in the week, with Devers hitting out of the No. 2 hole and Bregman batting third. This will allow the skipper to split up Devers and Triston Casas.
When Devers bats second in the lineup, he wouldn’t confirm if the team has decided to keep him as the designated hitter on a full-time basis, but if you read between the lines, it doesn’t appear he’ll be at third base, at least to open the season.
“I spoke with them,” said Devers. “I’m not going to share what we talked about here, just because it would make me come off … Those are private conversations. I told them everything from my point of view, how I see things, and they know that.”
One interesting note of his nine-minute conversation with the Sox’ media, was Devers didn’t quite understand why his shoulders were such a big topic of conversation.
“I really don’t know why there’s been such a big deal made about my shoulders,” Devers said. “Since the first day of camp, I’ve been saying my shoulders are good.”
Boston has been working Devers along slowly since camp opened last month. Even with them taking a cautious approach, it’s certainly disingenuous on Devers’ part to seem puzzled over fans and media questioning his health, especially having not seen game action with two weeks to go before Opening Day.
Thursday’s intrasquad game was all about Devers seeing live pitching and beginning to gain his timing at the plate. He faced Walker Buehler three times, striking out, lining out to center field, and then crushing a homer to center field. Devers also faced Zack Kelly and worked a walk.
“I just felt like I needed that little bit of extra time,” Devers said.
(WORCESTER RED SOX ASHLEY GREEN)
THE 'BIG 3' GO YARD
The Red Sox “Big 3” in Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell all homered versus the Rays during the Spring Breakout game on Thursday night.
Campbell’s blast came in the top of the third inning, after he took Rays reliever Trevor Harrison deep to right center field for a two-run homer. Mayer got in on the action, golfing a ball over the right field fence, going back-to-back with Campbell.
As a fan in the crowd was chanting “overrated” during Anthony’s at-bat, the Red Sox No. 1 prospect obliterated a 97 mph fastball off Santiago Suarez. His homer was an absolute moonshot, clearing the building behind the wall in right field.
“Yeah, it’s not the first time, I’ve heard that this spring. It’s always funny, but that’s part of it,” Anthony said of the fan heckling him from the stands, who took the ribbing as a compliment. “I think so, if they’re saying something it’s always a good thing if you’re relevant.”
“That’s definitely not the first time, it’s happened a couple of times in Triple-A,” Campbell added following the game. Mayer called the moment "sick."
Statcast was not on for the game tracking data, but the MLB Network play-by-play team said that Anthony’s ball traveled 434 feet with an exit velocity of 111 mph.
Boston would lose the Spring Breakout game, 7-5, to the Rays.
GIOLITO HEADED TO IL
Lucas Giolito was diagnosed with a low-grade hamstring strain that will result in him landing on the injured list.
“Obviously he’s behind,” Cora said following the Sox' 3-2 win over the Mets. “So, I don’t see him being on the Opening Day roster. So now the other guys come in to play. You saw Cooper Criswell (Wednesday). We got Sean Newcomb pitching (Thursday). We’re getting tested right away. I think the difference is that we truly believe that this year we’re in a better spot than last year, but we’re down three.”
Giolito downplayed his injury, telling reporters he feels fine.
“Obviously it’s frustrating, and it’s not my decision,” Giolito said. “I went out and threw today and felt 100 percent fine, completely asymptomatic. I was actually surprised at how good I felt. If I were in charge, I’d be like, ‘Let’s keep pitching.’”
With Giolito landing on the shelf, Boston will have three starters on the IL when the regular season begins in Texas. Brayan Bello (right shoulder inflammation) and Kutter Crawford (right knee) won’t be ready and will test Boston’s internal depth early.
Quinn Priester and Richard Fitts are the two leading candidates to pitch toward the backend of the Red Sox bullpen. Newcomb has looked sharp this spring where he’s posted a 0.93 ERA in four games (three starts), with 10 strikeouts to three walks in 9 2/3 innings. I’d expect the southpaw to break camp with the WooSox, and he could remain stretched out, filling a spot in the rotation while Priester and Fitts are with Boston.
