Something's amiss in Rafael Devers's move to DH
All that changed when Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, in the post-Mookie, post-Xander chaos that took the franchise to the bottom of the AL East in 2022 and 2023. The big money brought new attention and responsibilities and Sox Nation came down hard on Devers last month when he balked at the notion of moving to DH to accommodate new Sox third baseman, Gold Glover Alex Bregman.
Advertisement
We didn't see much of Devers after that fateful, rather hilarious day when he kept delivering his high-pitched 'No!'' (which required zero translation) to DH questions in Fort Myers. Devers looked overweight, was recovering from shoulder woes, and played in only five spring training games. The Sox kept him out of sight and off the airwaves.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
On the eve of the regular season, the team announced that Devers will, in fact, be their designated hitter, and this was followed by probably the two worst games of Devers's big league career.
In Boston's thrilling, 5-2 Opening Day win Thursday,
'It's only been two games,'' a calm Devers said late Friday. 'I feel comfortable at the plate. I feel good. I haven't hit the ball, but I feel everything will change . . . I know who I am. I know that I haven't done my job and I haven't done what I'm supposed to do, but I know that everything will change.''
Advertisement
It's hard to watch this and not wonder if the switch to DH is playing mind games with Devers. The Sox didn't talk to Devers about this change — or even suggest it might happen — until Bregman was acquired on the eve of spring training. Devers was clearly wounded by the request and was reported he wanted out of Boston.
The Sox played it smooth and close-to-the-vest throughout February and March. They let Devers cool off, and allowed manager Alex Cora to cajole the young slugger into accepting the new role. It all sounded good until we saw Devers in the first two games in Texas. Yuk. Was this just a couple of bad games, or is the DH role messing with Devers head?
I asked him. Does being a DH, instead of a third baseman, make it harder to hit?
'To be honest, I don't know,'' Devers answered, via translator Carlos Villoria-Benitez. 'I've never been in this position, so I don't know. I feel very good at the plate, I just haven't been able to hit the ball. So I don't know.''
Related
:
Sitting around between at-bats, instead of playing third base, means Devers needs a new routine. Doe he have his new routine down?
'I have my routine,'' he said. 'I try to stay warm and go warm to the plate. But it's only been two games. [Saturday] I'll come back here and I'll try to hit the ball.''
One more try: Does being a DH give him too much time to think about his at bats?
'No, I think that's in the past,'' he said. 'That was in spring training. Right now we're in the season and I'm the DH and I feel like you guys need to change the subject because that is over and I'm the DH.''
Advertisement
OK. We'll change the subject. But it's not going to be pretty.
Devers's' weight could be an issue. He looks big. Almost Panda big. He told us in spring training that he's 240 pounds. The Sox press guide lists him at 245, highest since he turned professional in 2013. The Sox claimed he was 235 last season.
In 2015, when Devers was in the minors, Boston listed his weight as 210 pounds. Now they've got him 30 pounds heavier and he's in a new role that makes it harder to keep the weight off.
If he hits, who cares? A few extra lbs. didn't seem to hurt Big Papi in his DHing prime. Whenever Earl Weaver was asked about the big belly on his MVP Boog Powell, Earl would say, 'He don't look too [expletive] fat to me when he's rounding the bases after hitting them homers!''
Devers said he might take a moment to talk with Ortiz or former teammate J. D. Martinez about this DH role. But he went into Saturday night's game certain the hits will come.
'I feel comfortable,'' he insisted. 'It's just a matter of time . . . I know I have't been able to hit the ball in the zone quite yet, but that's something that's going to come.''
Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
A's set date for breaking ground on $1.75 billion Las Vegas stadium
The Athletics' eventual move to the Sin City will take another step closer to reality later this month when they break ground on the $1.75 billion stadium in Las Vegas. The nomadic baseball team is planning on a groundbreaking ceremony on June 23 at 8 a.m., the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Monday night. Construction on the Athletics' future home began back in late April, and the ceremony later this month will serve as a celebration for the organization and local officials. Advertisement 3 The A's plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Among those expected to be at the event are team ownership, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, members of the state legislature and members of the Clark County Commission. The construction schedule for the stadium is slated to span 32 months to have the new ballpark ready for Opening Day 2028, according to the report. Advertisement The Athletics are currently playing in a minor league stadium in Sacramento, Calif., until their home in Las Vegas is completed. 3 This image shows a rendering of the baseball club's proposed stadium in Las Vegas. AP The A's started eying Vegas as a potential landing spot for the franchise back in 2021 when MLB cleared the club to do so after it had attempted to — though the sincerity of the attempts has been brought into question — get a new stadium in Oakland. The Athletics are expecting a largely local turnout for games once the team moves to Las Vegas, the team told the Review-Journal. Advertisement 3 This image shows a rendering of the baseball club's proposed stadium in Las Vegas. AP 'We've always thought that baseball would likely have a strong local component,' A's vice chair Sandy Dean told the outlet in April. 'It's hard to compare to Allegiant [Stadium] entirely because Allegiant has eight or nine games whereas baseball is going to have 81 games.' The Raiders had seen, on average, 68 percent of the fans at home games come from out of town, according to data from the Las Vegas Stadium Authority.
Fox Sports
3 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Top prospect Roman Anthony goes hitless with RBI groundout in MLB debut for the Red Sox
Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Roman Anthony was in Worcester, waiting for the 275-mile bus ride that would take him to Allentown, Pennsylvania, for his next Triple-A game, when WooSox manager Chad Tracy told the team their departure would be delayed because someone might need to head an hour east to Boston instead. 'I didn't really think anything of it, to be honest,' Anthony told reporters in the Red Sox dugout at Fenway Park before making his major league debut in Boston's 10-8, 11-inning loss to Tampa Bay on Monday night. 'I was just kind of waiting around in the food room with a few of the guys, and then all of a sudden he came out and just said, 'Hey, you're going to the big leagues,'' Anthony said. 'From there on out it's kind of been a little bit of a blur. But it was amazing. You dream of that every single day. So, to finally hear it was definitely awesome.' Anthony, who played right field and batted fifth, received the biggest cheer of all during pregame introductions and then a standing ovation from the crowd of 31,422 when he came to bat in the second inning, with a runner on first and nobody out. He popped up to left field and got another cheer as he returned to the dugout. In the third, he may have been robbed of his first major league hit when he lined a ball up the middle that hit pitcher Shane Baz — at 111 mph. It deflected to the third baseman, who made the throw to first for the out. Anthony also struck out looking with runners on first and second in the third and walked in the seventh. In the ninth, with the crowd again on its feet, he came up with runners on second and third and hit a hard bouncer up the middle for an RBI groundout. He was due to lead off the 11th, but manager Alex Cora pinch-hit for him against left-hander Ian Seymour. 'It was nice to finally take the field, forget about all the outside noise and just be able to take the field with the guys," he told reporters afterward. "Unfortunate we couldn't get a win, but it was a good experience — good to just get the first one over with.' Anthony fielded two balls easily in right field — a pair of singles in the fourth inning — but in the fifth he let a rolling ball go under his glove for a two-base error that led to an unearned run, giving Tampa a 3-0 lead. 'It just can't happen,' he said. 'It's tough when you lose a game like that, you feel like that's the reason we lost — little things like that. Just got to learn from it and be better.' A 21-year-old second-round draft pick who went viral over the weekend when he hit a 497-foot grand slam in Worcester, Anthony was the top-rated prospect in the minors before his call-up. He batted .288 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 58 games in Triple-A this season. His accomplishments in the minors had Red Sox fans clamoring for his call-up, especially with the team languishing in fourth place in the AL East, 8 1/2 games behind the rival New York Yankees. But while fellow prospects Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer got the call, the Red Sox remained patient on Anthony until an injury to Wilyer Abreu left them needing another outfielder. 'It's been a long time coming,' said Mayer, who was called up about two weeks ago. 'It's been talked about for a very long time, and it's kind of crazy that today's the day that we're all going to share the field together in the big leagues. I'm super excited. I think we have a really good team, and he's just another great addition to that.' Cora said he noticed something was wrong with Abreu after Sunday's game against the Yankees. When the team realized it would be more than a day or two, they decided to make the move and put Abreu on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain. The Red Sox made room for Anthony on the 40-man roster by designating first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda for assignment. 'We're trying to win ballgames,' Cora said. 'The kid has done an amazing job getting ready for this moment. We're excited. It's a big day for the organization.' Anthony was perhaps known only to the most dedicated fans before his homer on Saturday that was the longest measured this year by Statcast, which tracks the major leagues, Triple-A and the Class A Florida State League. Since Statcast started tracking in the majors in 2015, only five home runs have gone farther, including Nomar Mazara's 505-foot shot in 2019 for the Rangers. After getting the promotion, Anthony had time to call his parents and siblings and an old baseball coach and gather most of his equipment — his own glove, a single bat and a borrowed pair of cleats — before driving down the MassPike to Boston. He arrived in Boston a few hours before game time and by 7:30 p.m. he was taking aim at the historic red seat that marks Ted Williams' 502-foot homer that is the longest ever at Fenway Park. 'It happened quick. I think no matter when that call comes, nobody's really expecting it," he said before the game. 'Obviously a little bit of a short notice. But, you know, better than being on the bus to Lehigh Valley right now.' ___ AP MLB: recommended
Fox Sports
4 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Top prospect Roman Anthony made his MLB debut for the Red Sox. He was hitless with an RBI groundout
Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Roman Anthony was in Worcester, waiting for the 275-mile bus ride that would take him to Allentown, Pennsylvania, for his next Triple-A game, when WooSox manager Chad Tracy told the team their departure would be delayed because someone might need to head an hour east to Boston instead. 'I didn't really think anything of it, to be honest,' Anthony told reporters in the Red Sox dugout at Fenway Park before making his major league debut for Boston against Tampa Bay on Monday night. 'I was just kind of waiting around in the food room with a few of the guys, and then all of a sudden he came out and just said, 'Hey, you're going to the big leagues,'' Anthony said. 'From there on out it's kind of been a little bit of a blur. But it was amazing. You dream of that every single day. So, to finally hear it was definitely awesome.' Anthony, who played right field and batted fifth, received the biggest cheer of all during pregame introductions and then a standing ovation from the crowd of 31,422 when he came to bat in the second inning, with a runner on first and nobody out. He popped up to left field and got another cheer as he returned to the dugout. In the third, he may have been robbed of his first major league hit when he lined a ball up the middle that hit pitcher Shane Baz — at 111 mph. It deflected to the third baseman, who made the throw to first for the out. Anthony also struck out looking with runners on first and second in the third and walked in the seventh. In the ninth, he came up with runners on second and third and hit a hard bouncer up the middle for an RBI groundout. Anthony fielded two balls easily in right field — a pair of singles in the fourth inning — but in the fifth he let a rolling ball go under his glove for a two-base error that led to an unearned run, giving Tampa a 3-0 lead. A 21-year-old second-round draft pick who went viral over the weekend when he hit a 497-foot grand slam in Worcester, Anthony was the top-rated prospect in the minors before his call-up. He batted .288 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 58 games in Triple-A this season. His accomplishments in the minors had Red Sox fans clamoring for his call-up, especially with the team languishing in fourth place in the AL East, 8 1/2 games behind the rival New York Yankees. But while fellow prospects Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer got the call, the Red Sox remained patient on Anthony until an injury to Wilyer Abreu left them needing another outfielder. 'It's been a long time coming,' said Mayer, who was called up about two weeks ago. 'It's been talked about for a very long time, and it's kind of crazy that today's the day that we're all going to share the field together in the big leagues. I'm super excited. I think we have a really good team, and he's just another great addition to that.' Cora said he noticed something was wrong with Abreu after Sunday's game against the Yankees. When the team realized it would be more than a day or two, they decided to make the move and put Abreu on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain. The Red Sox made room for Anthony on the 40-man roster by designating first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda for assignment. 'We're trying to win ballgames,' Cora said. 'The kid has done an amazing job getting ready for this moment. We're excited. It's a big day for the organization.' Anthony was perhaps known only to the most dedicated fans before his homer on Saturday that was the longest measured this year by Statcast, which tracks the major leagues, Triple-A and the Class A Florida State League. Since Statcast started tracking in the majors in 2015, only five home runs have gone farther, including Nomar Mazara's 505-foot shot in 2019 for the Rangers. After getting the promotion, Anthony had time to call his parents and siblings and an old baseball coach and gather most of his equipment — his own glove, a single bat and a borrowed pair of cleats — before driving down the MassPike to Boston. He arrived in Boston a few hours before game time and by 7:30 p.m. he was taking aim at the historic red seat that marks Ted Williams' 502-foot homer that is the longest ever at Fenway Park. 'It happened quick. I think no matter when that call comes, nobody's really expecting it," he said before the game. 'Obviously a little bit of a short notice. But, you know, better than being on the bus to Lehigh Valley right now.' ___ AP MLB: recommended
