Boston Red Sox: 3 reasons Rafael Devers is MLB’s rising star
The “clutch” gene
Rafael Devers has gone through some slumps at the plate during his young MLB career, but he has had the “clutch” gene since the first month he was brought up to the big club back in the late summer of 2017.
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Off to a fast start, Devers became the only Boston Red Sox batter to record a hit in 17 of his first 20 games with the team. During a time when the lineup was looking for an energy jolt, the young third base phenom delivered exactly that.
He hit .286 with 17 RBI that first month, but showed he had a little David Ortiz in him when he launched two clutch homers in a series against the New York Yankees.
Described by a “unique talent” by then Red Sox manager John Farrell, Rafael Devers later showed off his fearlessness at the plate in the team’s Divisional loss to the Houston Astros.
That proved to be much needed experience for the Boston Red Sox third baseman who further displayed a little Big Papi with a clutch, pinch-hit RBI single in Game 4 of 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In 2019, Rafael Devers continues to be clutch at the plate with numerous multi-RBI games and go-ahead homers. At just 23 years old, the young slugger is quickly defining his own legacy in the major leagues.