It hasn’t even been a week, and Rafael Devers is about to see his old friends on the other side of the diamond.
Devers and the San Francisco Giants welcome the Boston Red Sox to Oracle Park Friday night for what will be a reunion between the star slugger and the Sox after the suprising blockbuster deal that sent him to the Bay Area on Sunday.
While the two sides haven’t been apart for very long, the players have some catching up to do.
“Obviously, I didn’t expect to face him at all, but I’ll just be really happy to see him,” said Saturday’s projected Red Sox starter Bryan Bello, according to MLB.com’s Ian Browne.
“Even if we get together beforehand, I don’t think baseball is going to be a topic at all.”
-
-
Watch Giants, Devers clash with Red Sox on Sportsnet+
Rafael Devers faces his former team for the first time since the blockbuster trade when the San Francisco Giants host the Boston Red Sox on Friday. Watch live on Sportsnet+ starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
The Devers-Red Sox relationship began to sour in Spring Training after the team asked him to switch from third base to designated hitter following the acquisition of Alex Bregman. The team then asked the 28-year-old to move to first base after Tristan Casas went down with an injury.
But the frustration was mutual.
Devers, after already reluctantly switching to DH, declined to play first base, while the Red Sox brass grew frustrated with the slugger’s hesitancy to change positions.
They had a conversation with me,” Devers said on May 8, per Browne. “I don’t think, for me personally, it’s the best decision after they asked me to play a different position (DH) in Spring Training.”
But he’s had a change of heart since joining the Giants.
“I don’t know a timetable, but I know I’m going to try and get there as fast as I can and be ready whenever the team needs me,” Devers said Wednesday when asked if he could play first base against Boston, according to Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo. “I’m gonna take as many grounders as possible at first base and whenever the manager and coaches feel I’m ready, I’m gonna be ready.”
Regardless of where he lines up, Devers, a two-time Silver Slugger, will be ready with the bat. But the Dominican infielder got off to a historically poor start this season after becoming a full-time DH, going 0-for-19 with 15 strikeouts.
He’s returned to form since, slashing .272/.401/.498 with 15 home runs and 59 RBIs. With San Francisco, he’s logged three hits in as many games.
The three-time all-star figures to bat third against his former team in a game full of emotions. Where he slots in on the diamond is to be seen, but the emotions are sure to pass once the first pitch leaves the hand of Giants righty Hayden Birdsong.
“It will be a little weird for sure, seeing him in those colours,” Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story said, according to Browne. “Once the game starts, I’m sure he’ll tell you the same, it’s about winning.”
Catch all the action on Sportsnet+ with first pitch at 10:15 p.m. ET / 7:15 p.m. PT.
