Rafael Devers is gone. Wilyer Abreu is back. How will the Red Sox divide up the playing time?

New York Times

3 hours ago

SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers stepped to the plate in the first inning at Oracle Park on Friday, his first game against his former team, the Boston Red Sox.
It had been five days since a shocking trade between the Red Sox and Giants rocked the baseball world. Devers, wearing No. 16 and donning San Francisco's orange and black, walked the batter's box as the crowd rose for a standing ovation. In the opposing dugout, Red Sox manager Alex Cora nodded his head to his longtime former player.
Rafael Devers receives a big ovation before his first at-bat against his former team 👏 pic.twitter.com/07crQEj2zm
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 21, 2025
Devers took his customary deep sigh at the plate before digging in. He grounded out on one pitch in the first of five hitless at-bats during a back-and-forth affair, one which the Red Sox held on to win 7-5 over the Giants. It marked Boston's eighth win in its last nine games.
'It's not surreal, just weird, you know,' Cora said of seeing Devers on the other side after nine years in Boston. 'But like I said, we as an organization, we made a decision, he's with the Giants. And like he said a few days ago, he has a job to do. We got a job to do.'
Advertisement
There was a bit of irony in the fact that the Red Sox had their best offensive game since trading Devers in their first matchup since his departure. The Red Sox had scored a total of five runs across their previous three games in Seattle, with some natural questions about what losing Devers' bat might mean for the team's offense.
Those questions were quieted on Friday as the Red Sox posted seven runs on 11 hits and scored in five straight innings after falling behind 3-0 in the second inning.
'Now somebody else has to step up,' Cora said of the team's offensive identity without Devers. 'We might have to play a little bit of small ball, especially in places like this and places like Seattle. I do believe, athletic-wise, we're in a good spot. Obviously, we've got a bunch of kids that are learning how to play in the big leagues, and it's not that easy. But we're very pleased with the at-bats.'
Ceddanne Rafaela went 3-for-4 with a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning and finished a triple shy of the cycle, while David Hamilton's two-run homer in the third put the Red Sox on the board.
Devers' bat provided a consistent power threat, but the Red Sox showed Friday that they can produce without him.
Wilyer Abreu, in his first game back after 10 days on the injury list with an oblique strain, collected two hits and drove in a run in the win.
With Abreu back, the Red Sox optioned Kristian Campbell to Triple-A Worcester.
In 67 games, Campbell hit .223 with a .664 OPS. He burst onto the scene in April, winning Rookie of the Month before hitting a wall in May and struggling to find consistency. Since the start of May, he'd hit just .159 with a .465 OPS.
Campbell had started 54 of his 67 games at second base, but racked up minus-14 Defensive Runs Saved, the worst in the majors. In Worcester on Friday, Campbell continued to take grounders in pre-game work at first base.
Advertisement
'I think it was a good time for him to reset, to be honest with you,' Cora said before the game. 'Go down there and work on a few things that we have seen the last few weeks that we were not doing here.
'To be able to play the (first base) position, that'll be important,' Cora added. 'Obviously, with time, we're going to have to make some more decisions with the roster. Him playing first base is going to help us.'
With Campbell having a majority of the reps at second recently, Cora said Hamilton will see more playing time at the spot. He also noted rookie Marcelo Mayer, who has taken over third base since Alex Bregman went on the injury list May 24, could see time at second, particularly when Bregman returns from the IL.
Bregman isn't close to returning, but continuing to ramp up his running progression.
Bregman and Masataka Yoshida worked out at Boston College this week as Fenway Park prepares to host a series of concerts this weekend. Yoshida has been building up arm strength since offseason shoulder surgery, but with the DH spot now open, Cora said there's less of a need for Yoshida to fully strengthen his throwing arm to play the outfield and that he could move into the DH role once he completes a rehab assignment. Yoshida isn't quite ready to begin a rehab assignment, but Cora said that he will be soon.
Meanwhile, by optioning Campbell to Triple A, the Red Sox gave a vote of confidence to Roman Anthony, who entered the game with two hits since his promotion on June 9. Anthony went 1-for-4 on Friday and drove in a run.
Cora noted with Abreu returning to man right field, a spot where he won the Gold Glove last season, Anthony will see time at all three outfield spots. Anthony had only played right field since his promotion. On Friday, he served as the designated hitter.
Advertisement
Without Devers at DH and with Yoshida still a ways from returning, the club will rotate players through the DH spot.
Cora has mixed and matched the roster to maximize the pieces, and on Friday, in their fourth game of the post-Devers era, the offense looked more than capable.
(Photo of Rafael Devers: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)