Three-time All-Star infielder Rafael Devers made his debut with the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday evening in a 3-2 loss towards the Cleveland Guardians (box score). Devers, who batted third and served as San Francisco’s designated hitter, was traded to the Giants on Sunday as a part of a five-player swap involving the Boston Red Sox and pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks.
Devers struck out in his first at-bat of the evening, happening swinging towards Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi. He doubled and drove in a run in his second at-bat of the evening, lining a 111.4 mph drive into the right-center hole. Here is a have a look at that extra-base hit in all its video glory:
Devers then struck out once more in his third journey to the plate, once more versus Cecconi, earlier than grounding out in his fourth encounter, with that coming towards reliever Cade Smith. He laced a single in his final at-bat of the evening, advancing the tying run to second with one out within the backside of the ninth towards nearer Emmanuel Clase. General, Devers went 2 for five with a double and a run batted in.
Devers, who had solely suited up for the Purple Sox previous to Tuesday, had a falling out with Boston that dated again to the spring after they signed Alex Bregman to play third base with out first clearing it with Devers. Though he finally acquiesced and moved to DH, he later refused to take up first base after Triston Casas suffered a season-ending damage. Devers now sounds open to taking part in wherever the Giants wanted him, be it third or first base and even DH.
“They’re the boys in cost,” Devers said through an interpreter prior to Tuesday’s game. “I’m right here to play wherever they need me to play.”
Devers later took floor balls at first base forward of his debut. It is maybe value noting that the Giants are scheduled to host the Purple Sox later this week, making it doable that he performs the place for the Giants throughout that collection that the Purple Sox wished him to play all alongside.
Devers, 28, opened his season with a formidable 73-game stint with the Purple Sox that noticed him bat .272/.401/.504 with 15 dwelling runs and 18 extra doubles. His 153 OPS+ would characterize a single-season finest if he have been to keep up it the remainder of the best way. Moreover, Devers’ efficiency so far was estimated to be value 2.3 Wins Above Substitute, in response to Baseball Reference.