Rafael Devers
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Position:
3B
Born:
10/24/96
Height:
6'0"
Weight:
195
B/T:
L/R
Acquired:
Signed as an international free agent (Dominican Republic) on August 9, 2013 (BOS).
Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
| Hitting a combined .311 in 86 games between Portland (Double-A) and Pawtucket (Triple-A) with 20 home runs, 60 RBIs, 20 doubles and a .311/.377/.578 slash line. |
Info & MLB Debut Date
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Contract purchased from Pawtucket on July 25, when RHP Kyle Martin was sent down, and LHP Robbie Ross Jr. was transferred from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL to clear a roster spot. MLB Debut Date: 07/25/17 |
Debut Details
| July 25, in a 6-5 13-inning loss to the Mariners. The starting third baseman, he batted ninth and went 0-for-4 with one run scored and two walks. In his first at bat in the third inning with one out, facing right-handed starter Felix Hernandez, he flew out to center. In the sixth inning, he drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a double by Dustin Pedroia. In the seventh, against right-handed reliever Steve Cishek, he hit into a one-out inning-ending 5-6-3 double play. In the ninth, against right-handed reliever Edwin Diaz, he drew a two-out walk. In the 11th, facing left-handed reliever James Pazos, with two outs, the score tied at 4-4 and runners on second and third, he struck out swinging. In the top of the 13th, against right-handed reliever Tony Zych, with the Sox up by a run, 5-4, with two outs and a runner on third, he flew out to center to end the inning before the Mariners scored two in the bottom of the inning to win. |
Player Notes
| Perhaps the most highly-anticipated call-up this season of one of the top prospects in baseball, his being a Red Sox power prospect certainly adds to his allure. Once Pablo Sandoval was released and another third baseman was not found via trade, the murmuring call for Devers turned into a loud buzz and finally, two days before his debut and a day before his promotion, Boston GM Dave Dombrowski announced that, indeed, Devers would be joining the team after the weekend. A power-hitting, middle-of-the-lineup prospect, Devers comes off a 2017 Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game appearance and has been enjoying the highest slugging percentage of his very short pro career. Very short because, at age 20 (he'll turn 21 in late October), he is the youngest player in the majors, edging out Padres catcher Luis Torrens (April 1996) by several months. Even when Dodgers lefty Julio Urias returns from the minors (he's held the "youngest" title while he's been up since making his debut at age 19 last summer having been born in August of 1996), Devers will maintain that title, being just over two months younger than Urias. Signed in 2013, he did not make his pro debut until 2014 in the Dominican Summer League. Coming into 2017 ranked by Baseball Americaas the Sox' No. 2 prospect (behind current rookie outfielder Andrew Benintendi), he was lauded for the best infield arm in the system. His defense is solid and continually improving as comes with maturity. He has the arm and the range already. But it's his bat that gets fans drooling: Developing (again, with age and maturity) power to all fields, his 20 hom runs at the time of his call-up already marked a personal best along with that .578 SLG. He's got sheer athleticism in his favor as well, though speed is not really part of his game (his 18 steals at High A Salem in 2016 notwithstanding ... he has none this year and only 26 total). In 2016 he batted .282 with 11 home runs, 71 RBIs and 18 steals at Salem with 32 doubles. His career slash is .296/.354/.482, not bad for a kid not yet old enough to buy a beer. Now just enjoy and watch what is sure to be a long and upwards ride. |
2080 Notes