Boston Red Sox: Rafael Devers should not be included in any trades
By Oliver Gold
Give Devers time
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Devers hasn’t had a great season so far. The 21-year-old has been unable to duplicate the success he had last year, batting just .239 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs in 70 games. His plate discipline has been brutal, as Devers has struck out 76 times with just 19 walks. Last year, Devers hit .284 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in 58 games. Devers’ fielding has improved this year but is still shaky, to say the least.
However, the Red Sox should not have expected Devers’ bat to be at the level it was last season. Teams do not know what to expect from rookies when they are first called up and only have minor-league film. With a half-season under his belt, teams have noticed that Devers is an aggressive hitter who swings at a lot of pitches out of the strike zone.
It must be frustrating for the Red Sox that Devers has continued to struggle, but they should stay patient. He is just 21 years old and is playing in his first full major-league season.