Boston Red Sox: Rafael Devers has a little Big Papi in him

The 2019 MLB season will be a big one for Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers as he looks to take the next step in his career.

Let’s make this clear.  There will never be another David Ortiz, but there is a young Boston Red Sox player who has some of his attributes offensively and his name is Rafael Devers.

With J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts doing their thing in 2018, a lot of pressure was taken off Devers to perform at a consistent level offensively.

In fact, the big seasons by those two bats helped shield the struggles of the young third baseman though the early to middle part of the season.

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Still, despite hitting .240, Devers belted 21 homers and knocked in 66 RBI.  He also came through in the playoffs with a couple of clutch hits, including a big home run in the ALCS against the Houston Astros.  At just 21 years old, Rafael Devers has already shown to have a clutch bone in his body.  For the Boston Red Sox in 2019, the team is hoping he finds more consistency at the plate.

Part of that consistency comes with discipline, something that Red Sox legend Big Papi certainly knows about.

What most people forget is that Ortiz had some success early in his career with the Minnesota Twins and then struggled.  He knows how tough it can be to have prolonged success over an MLB career and he has shared some advice with Devers that could go a long way in his development and sustained production whether it’s with the Red Sox long-term or another team.

Ortiz shared the following Instagram post in which he is seen with Devers sharing some influential advice:

Early success in his career

Rafael Devers has a world of talent.  While his defense is a work in progress, he has shown the potential to be a potent bat in the Boston Red Sox lineup.  If he is able to make the necessary adjustments, he will continue to grow, but a lot of that will take patience at the plate.

With the early success he has already experienced in helping his team win a World Series championship, the steady motivation to get better could become out of focused for a young player with a high ceiling.  That’s why David Ortiz has shared the advice about discipline.

In order for Devers to become the player he can be and perhaps be the next Big Papi in Boston, he has to stay committed to getting better as a player and as an individual.  When times get tough, he has to battle through them.  When things are at their highest, he has to stay humbled and remember that hard work and dedication will keep him striving.

In summary, there will never be another player like the legendary David Ortiz, but with his advice and guidance there could be the next Rafael Devers.  The Boston Red Sox would love it if that player arrived in 2019.