Red Sox
“If you look at the numbers right now, he’s probably the best DH in the American League right now.”
Rafael Devers has drawn plenty of headlines in recent days given his candid comments about Craig Breslow, Boston’s front office, and his unwillingness to make the switch to first base following Triston Casas’ season-ending injury.
The 28-year-old designated hitter has yet to comment to the media since his media scrum on Friday at Fenway Park — with a sit-down between himself, Red Sox owner John Henry, Breslow, and manager Alex Cora in Kansas City standing as the latest development in the disgruntled slugger’s standing with Boston.
It remains to be seen if Devers will eventually relent and move to first, or if the Red Sox will pivot elsewhere to address Casas’ absence in the infield.
But after airing out his grievances on Friday, Devers had opted to let his play do the talking.
And given the returns, the Red Sox might be content with keeping him at this current spot — at least if he continues this torrid production.
Devers’ comments sparked off a media firestorm over the weekend, but that narrative did little to slow down the All-Star batter at the plate, as Devers teed off against the Royals pitching over the weekend.
During Boston’s series victory against Kansas City, Devers was a menace at the plate — batting .583 with a 1.560 OPS, seven hits, six RBI, two walks, a double, and a home run.
Devers went 2-for-3 at the plate during Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Royals — giving his team the lead for good after belting a 440-foot, two-run homer in the sixth inning that broke a 1-1 deadlock.
“He’s very comfortable,” Cora said of Devers, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “Keeps growing and learning about (being the DH). Strength and conditioning, the trainers and the hitting group, they’ve done an amazing job supporting him. If you look at the numbers right now, he’s probably the best DH in the American League right now.”
For all of the discourse surrounding Devers, the Red Sox’s top hitter has seemingly settled into a groove at DH after a sluggish start. Following Sunday’s win, he has now reached base safely in eight of his last nine plate appearances — driving in five runs over that stretch.
But Devers’ strong play carries beyond this three-game stretch against the Royals.
As noted by former Red Sox stats guru J.P. Long, Devers has now slugged five home runs and posted a 1.277 OPS over his last 15 games — going 25-for-59 at the plate with 10 walks and one hit by pitch.
Devers is the first MLB player so far this season to hit 5-plus home runs and reach base more than 35 times over any 15-game span this season — and the first Red Sox player to accomplish that feat since J.D. Martinez in 2019.
After starting the 2025 season 0-for-19 with 15 strikeouts, Devers is batting .319 the rest of the way — while his .888 OPS leads all big leaguers.
The Red Sox are still waiting for a resolution to the ongoing search for a first baseman.
But wherever Devers slots in, he’s generating an evident impact — even with all of the headaches along the way.
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