Former Red Sox Star Rafael Devers Has Adventurous Game At First Base
Rafael Devers is still learning the ropes at first base for the San Francisco Giants. The former Boston Red Sox superstar went through the wringer on Saturday night.
After spending the entire season as Boston’s designated hitter, Devers has begun playing first base for San Francisco. He had an eventful evening in just his third game at the new position, committing his first error while struggling to cleanly field multiple other balls against the New York Mets.
It wasn’t all bad for Devers. He moved far off the bag to retrieve a Juan Soto grounder and make an out at second base in the opening frame. With the bases loaded in the fourth, he scooped up a Matt Chapman throw from third to complete an inning-ending double play.
In the following inning, Devers dropped a ground ball hit by Brandon Nimmo. While it wasn’t pretty, he shoveled the ball toward the first-base bag and retired Nimmo just in time to laugh over the close call.
However, a similar scenario hurt the Giants in the sixth. With runners on first and second, Devers bobbled the ball before he could consider throwing to second. He salvaged an out at first, but Mark Vientos put New York ahead with a two-run double.
“We had a chance (to turn the double play),” Devers said after the game, per MLB.com’s Maria Guardado. “Those things are going to happen. We got one out, but after that, they came through with the big hit.”
Soto reached based on a Devers error in the seventh, but the Giants quickly erased the miscue with a double play.
On the other end, Pete Alonso ended the game with a Web Gem. New York’s first baseman robbed Patrick Bailey of a hit by lunging to grab a scorching line drive for the final out of a 2-1 Mets win.
Giants manager Bob Melvin said after the game that Devers’ baptism by fire will ultimately prove to be a positive learning experience.
“I’m glad he got a bunch of balls today,” Melvin said. “The more he gets like that, the more in-between plays and plays where he’s got to make a decision where he’s covering first or going to get the ball, all of those things are going to be good for him at the end of the day. I know a couple didn’t look great, but again, it didn’t cost us, and I think the more experience he gets over there, the better he’s going to look.”