The last time Rafael Devers hit a home run, he was wearing Red Sox red. Then came the big deal. This weekend, in his new Giants gray, he stood up to the people he used to play with. On Saturday, the fans at Oracle Park—and the MLB fraternity—held their breath, waiting to see if this time Devers’ bat could roar after Friday’s silence.
Well, for the first two at-bats, his bat was silent again. First was the groundout, and then in the second inning it was a flyout. But in the third inning, it all changed! In the bottom of the third, Andrew Knizner was on first base after a defensive mistake. That’s where Devers stepped in, and on the mound was Brayan Bello, who threw a fastball right down the middle. And guess what?
Devers waited and took a swing— sending the ball over the wall with a Statcast-projection of 370 feet. The scoreboard showed 3–0 Giants, and San Francisco roared. Devers was naturally ecstatic!
After the game, which the Giants eventually won 3-2, a visibly composed Devers was asked about the homer and through his interpreter, he said, “Nothing more special than any other home run I hit. I’m just here and happy that I was able to contribute to the team’s win.”
He knew what Bello was going to throw. “I was expecting that because it’s a pitch I’ve been missing a lot, but eventually I will make my adjustments,” Devers further added.
Oct 11, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (11) hits a three-run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning during the third inning during game four of the 2021 ALDS at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Devers had a batting average of .209 against four-seam fastballs going into the June weekend, while he was hitting .419 against other pitches. The Red Sox took advantage of that earlier in the series. However, on Saturday, he adjusted his approach, and timed his swing better.
When Alex Cora was asked about Devers’ performance, his answer was pretty straightforward. “We made a pitch, he hit it out of the ballpark. That’s part of it.” And Bello also echoed the same thoughts: “It’s the same if he hits a homer or anybody else.”‘
While the Red Sox seemed to shrug it off, Devers’ new teammates and manager are elated to have him on board.
New teammates heap praise on Rafael Devers as he settles in
The Giants are certainly happy to have Devers on board and he is finding his footing pretty quickly as well. Mike Yastrzemski reflected on his skillset, as he lauded his amazing bat speed, quick thinking, and franchise-ready profile—exactly what San Francisco needs in the center of the lineup.
And Yastrzemski is not the only one to heap praises on Devers. Landen Roupp also got on the hype train. After six scoreless innings, he said Devers’ swing seemed to lift a “little weight” off his shoulders.
Giants manager Bob Melvin also talked about how tough Devers has been during all the chaos: a trade, a relocation across the country, and the emotional weight of playing against his old team. Per Melvin, the 28-year-old has “looked comfortable…happy” since day one.
Devers is now 4-for-20 with the Giants, with a double and three RBIs. He is the dependable bat and the calming presence that the Giants need, as they chase the October Glory once again after 2014.
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