Whereas Rafael Devers‘ place change should not be a shock, it appears unprecedented.
On Wednesday, Boston Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora confirmed Devers will transfer to designated hitter and Alex Bregman will substitute him at third base.
“Alex goes to play third. Raffy goes to DH,” Cora stated, through Ken Laird of WEEI-FM in Boston. “All of us are within the successful enterprise. He understands that.”
Shifting Devers to DH might assist the Pink Sox win extra video games. Though he has gained two Silver Sluggers, the 28-year-old may very well be thought-about a defensive legal responsibility. In eight seasons with Boston, Devers has committed 141 errors.
Bregman, in the meantime, gained a Gold Glove in his last season with the Houston Astros in 2024. Nonetheless, elite gamers like Devers sometimes do not transfer to DH till they’re of their early 30s.
“Edgar Martinez, the Corridor of Famer for whom the Excellent Designated Hitter Award is called, did not turn into a full-time DH till he was 32,” wrote The Athletic’s Chad Jennings in a narrative revealed Wednesday. “Frank Thomas did not transfer primarily to DH till he was 30, and even at 31 he was nonetheless enjoying a 3rd of his video games at third base.”
The transfer to DH can be a difficult one. Jennings famous the Minnesota Twins had middle fielder Byron Buxton play DH in the course of the 2023 season to assist him cope with knee issues. In 85 regular-season video games, he recorded the second-lowest batting average (.207) of his 10-year profession.
In 2024, he moved again to the outfield. In 102 regular-season video games, his batting common improved to .279, the second-best mark of his profession.
That could be why Devers was adamant about staying at third base.
“No, third base is my place,” Devers told the media on Feb. 17. “It is what I play. I do not know what their plans are. We had a dialog. I made it clear what my needs had been. No matter occurs from right here, I do not know.”
But when the uncommon transfer works, it might make the Pink Sox look sensible. Boston faces the Texas Rangers on the highway at 4:05 p.m. ET on Opening Day on Thursday.
