Boston Red Sox Op/Ed: Rafael Devers is an All-Star in the making
Many on the Boston Red Sox have been inconsistent so far in 2019. Third baseman Rafael Devers has not been one of them.
Starters for the 2019 All-Star game have been announced with nary a member of the Boston Red Sox in sight. There were plenty of Houston Astros and New York Yankees voted in , but the two Boston players in the finals, Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, did not earn enough votes.
One player from the Red Sox who didn’t make the final cut in voting but should definitely be under consideration to be named as a reserve is Rafael Devers.
At the halfway point of 2019, Devers is enjoying the finest season of his young career. He’s currently on pace to hit 24 home runs and 98 RBI. Devers is also currently third on the team with runs scored (60) and should surpass 100 if he continues on this pace. More impressive is the fact that Devers is also hitting for average.
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Devers is hitting at a .322 clip in 2019. In a day and age where batting average isn’t as highly valued as it once was, Devers is rising above that. Too often players are content with going for an all-or-nothing approach. Devers is showing that by hitting and getting on base (.373 OBP) he is more than just a power hitter.
His average has gone up 29 points since June 11 and he appears to be getting only stronger. Devers closed out the series against the Chicago White Sox by picking up seven hits in nine at-bats and over the last week he’s 9-15 with five doubles and six runs scored.
Devers is locked in and producing, doing so no matter where manager Alex Cora places him in the lineup.
A model of consistency
Devers had spent a lot of time in the lower third of the lineup prior to 2019, but, in pointing to his growth, has hit primarily from positions 4th thru 6th this season.
Being comfortable at the plate has allowed Devers to be slotted everywhere in the lineup but the leadoff position so far in 2019.
Over the last ten games, Devers has collected 18 hits. He did battle a mini-slump in the early part of June, but has bounced back nicely since his averaged dipped to .293 on June 11.
Overall in June, Devers is hitting .316 with 4 home runs and 17 RBI. Thanks to the offense also heating up, he isn’t simply being stranded on base, crossing home plate 20 times this month.
Devers also has nine multi-hit games in June. With two games left on the schedule, Devers has a chance to add to his totals. The Red Sox are facing the New York Yankees in London on Saturday and Sunday. Devers has struggled a bit against the Yankees in 2019, collecting only 4 hits in 19 at-bats (with 1 home run).
The third baseman carries with him a .897 OPS in 2019, with 23 doubles and 2 triples. And for a guy who didn’t hit his first home run of the season until May 3, the power stroke of Devers has been on display as of late.
Even his defense continues to improve, with Devers only committing three errors over the last two months.
Boston Red Sox: Rafael Devers poised for breakout in 2019. dark. Next
Boston has been an inconsistent team in 2019, but Devers has been a model of consistency. And for this, an all-star nod to him should be given to him. It’s the least Cora could do, right?