Red Sox Rafael Devers Breaks Silence on Top Prospect Replacement

Newsweek

a day ago

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The Boston Red Sox saw the fruits of their latest major roster moves after a second straight win against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.
After calling up top prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer in recent days, both players have contributed to the offense. Anthony logged his first major-league hit on Tuesday and Mayer enjoyed a two-homer outing on Wednesday.
"They felt really good," Mayer said of the pair of long balls, per Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. "To get the first one at home was special. Then obviously you get the second one anytime you could to help the team out offensively. It means a lot."
The Red Sox will need more of the same from their rookies. The team has a disappointing losing record and a fourth-place standing in the American League East division, even after adding several win-now veterans in the offseason.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 26: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox looks on in the dugout before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on May 26, 2025 in Milwaukee,...
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 26: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox looks on in the dugout before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on May 26, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston) More
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The team became the center of some significant clubhouse drama after asking franchise slugger Rafael Devers to move from his long-held position at third base to accommodate new teammate Alex Bregman, then asking him to move to first base, which he refused. Now, with Bregman on the injured list, Mayer has been playing third.
In his first comments to the media since the middle of last month, Devers broke his silence on Anthony and Mayer with some praise for the prospect who has taken over the hot corner.
"They've made us better," Devers said, according to Abraham. "It helps us a lot to have them in the lineup. It helps me, too."
Devers' compliment should be taken to heart, considering that he's made good on similar expectations after joining the lineup as a 20-year-old rookie in 2017. As the team looks to turn around its disappointing season so far, it will have to hope for similar ascents from Mayer and Anthony.
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