Red Sox extra bases: Rafael Devers is custom made for Fenway Park
Boston Red Sox top prospect Rafael Devers has helped spark energy into the Sox lineup. The 20-year-old third basemen has lived up to the hype so far.
Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don’t make. Just ask Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
In the team’s search for a third baseman, particularly another bat in a stagnant Red Sox lineup, Dombrowski decided to call up 20-year-old top prospect Rafael Devers instead of making a deal for a power bat.
So, far, the decision to utilize their top prospects instead of trading them away has paid off for the team. If anything, what Devers has added to the team is a renewed energy that has turned a slumping team back into AL East leaders. His production speaks for itself.
Since making the leap to the major leagues, Devers is batting .389 with 3 home runs and 6 RBI. Along with newcomer Eduardo Nunez, he has given the offense a jolt it desperately needed. Most importantly for the Boston Red Sox, it looks like they have a player who will fill the third base position for years to come.
Fenway power
They also have a player who is taking advantage of that left field wall called the Green Monster. Devers launched his third-career home run over the wall Thursday night in a 9-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Following the game, Devers talked about the affect the hitting in a ballpark like Fenway Park has on him.
"“The Green Monster definitely affects me in a positive way,” Devers said, via MLB.com. “Just being able to hit it towards the wall and have it give me some extra-base hits is clutch.”More from Chowder and Champions3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster DeadlineMLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 SeasonRed Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win"
Natural confidence
His opposite field power is a good indication of the success he will have playing half his games at Fenway. Another good indication of the success he will have is the confidence he already has at such a young age. Red Sox manager John Farrell highlighted that confidence when speaking to the media following the 9-5 win.
"“There’s a natural confidence in there that he exudes and you can never replace getting off to a quick start,” Farrell said. “That’s going to build. But the beauty of what he’s doing is that he hasn’t really swung at pitches outside of the strike zone. He’s very disciplined.”"
That discipline is leading to big things for Devers and the team. The bats as a whole have woken up a bit and the team is now in the mix of a four-game winning streak and back on top of the AL East.
Next: Boston Red Sox: Mitch Moreland’s walk-off blast powers Sox victory
To say it is all due to a 20-year-old prospect is a lot to put on the shoulders of Rafael Devers. But, it is more than a coincidence that the offense has picked up since his arrival. He looks like he belongs and with the way he is taking advance of the ballpark, I’d say he is custom made for Fenway Park.