BOSTON — Rafael Devers has settled into his function because the designated hitter for the Boston Crimson Sox and mentioned lately that he wasn’t altering his thoughts about transferring to first base.
If he retains going like this, why hassle making an attempt.
Devers hit his first profession walk-off Saturday night time, main off the underside of the ninth inning with a solo shot in opposition to Pierce Johnson to ship the Crimson Sox to a 7-6 comeback win over the Atlanta Braves that snapped their four-game shedding streak.
“Clearly, very excited due to the kind of sport,” Devers mentioned by a staff interpreter. “For us to have the ability to come again and win this sort of sport means quite a bit. And likewise to get it going with the staff to get all people excited.”
After Devers shared his emotions about not eager to play first, Crimson Sox proprietor John Henry flew to share his opinions with the disgruntled slugger.
Henry, staff president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow flew to Kansas Metropolis to satisfy with Devers and supervisor Alex Cora on Might 9.
However after a traditionally gradual begin to the season, Devers has been sizzling on the plate. He has reached base in 19 of his previous 20 video games, hitting .397 with six homers and 20 RBIs in that stretch.
“I really feel very snug proper now,” Devers mentioned. “I’ve my routine and go on the market each day and do my routine to prepare and I really feel very snug as a DH.”
Stated Cora: “He is been swinging the bat effectively, taking his walks. That first weekend, whoever has an evidence of what occurred there, give me a name and clarify it as a result of it was laborious to see it, after which he simply modified. He is been actually good.”
The Crimson Sox had tried to speak Devers into transferring to first after common first baseman Triston Casas was misplaced for the season following surgical procedure on his left knee.
“He has his routine down,” Cora mentioned. “He cares about us, he cares concerning the staff and he desires to win. Proper now, like I mentioned earlier than, he is our DH and he is performed an impressive job. … He is in all probability the perfect DH within the American League proper now.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
