Chowder and Champions
Fansided

Boston Red Sox 2019 report card: Grading Rafael Devers’ breakout season

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox runs to first base after hitting an RBI double during the second inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 23, 2019 in San Diego, California. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players' Weekend. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox runs to first base after hitting an RBI double during the second inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 23, 2019 in San Diego, California. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players' Weekend. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Boston Red Sox failed to make the playoffs in 2019, but they watched one of their young players breakout as a rising young star in the league.

Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers grew up before our very eyes in 2019, breaking out as one of the rising young stars in the league.

Just 22 years old, the Red Sox young slugger already showed glimpses of what he could in the previous two seasons.  The only problem or frustration with Devers is his inconsistency.

Still, the slugger showed off his clutch gene with big hits during the team’s World Series run in 2018.  After getting off to a slow start in 2019, Rafael Devers turned it on and broke out as one of the team’s top offensive weapons.

More from Chowder and Champions

With players like J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts on the team, that is saying a lot about a player still in his early 20s.  In a year that turned out to be a disappointment for the team, Devers finished the season batting .311 with 32 homers and 115 RBI.  He also reached 200 hits for the season.

Not only was he consistent at the plate, he was dominant at times with multiple games in which he knocked in 3-plus RBI   He certainly put himself in the conversation for AL MVP with his overall performance throughout the season at such a young age.

Overachievement/underachievement

While Rafael Devers was expected to have a good year in 2019, no one expected him to breakout like he did and put up the type of record-breaking numbers that he did in a down season for the team overall.

So, in that respect his season was a bit of an overachievement.  But, one that was fun to watch as Devers etched his name into Boston Red Sox history accomplishing some amazing feats.

Not only was he the franchise’s youngest player to collect 200 hits in the season, he set a record for doubles and his 32 home runs is the most homers by a Red Sox third baseman.

Rafael Devers also joined an elite group of players as his 90 extra-base hits marked him as one of three players to do so before the age of 23.  The others were Joe DiMaggio and Alex Rodriguez.

Let’s hope his career continues on their paths as far as numbers go.

Grade

A+. . Boston Red Sox. S2019. Rafael Devers

Rafael Devers has learned from some of the best in the game.

Working with David Ortiz and J.D. Martinez, Devers has taken their guidance, along with his own experience and morphed into a player to be reckoned with at the plate.

He is also proof of what a young player can become when the team is patient with his growth.

"“He’s consistent at what he’s doing,” Alex Cora told reporters in Toronto back in July, via NBC Sports Boston. “He’s dominating the strike zone, he’s playing good defense, he’s a good baserunner, he’s a complete player. And he’s only 22. We’re glad we were patient with him. We know that there’s going to be times that he’s going to be 22, but overall he’s one of the best third basemen in the big leagues, and he’s showing that on a nightly basis.”"

That consistency and dominance continued the entire season, which is why Rafael Devers has earned an A+ for his breakout season in 2019.

More. Boston Red Sox: 3 reasons Rafael Devers is MLB’s rising star. light

Overall outlook for 2020

Not sure how much better things can get for Rafael Devers offensively, but it will be fun to watch.

Depending on what happens with Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, Devers could have more put on his back in 2020.  Still, I see him replicating those numbers and perhaps putting up bigger power numbers.

Next. Boston Red Sox: 4 players whose great seasons were wasted in 2019. dark

Given his age, there is no doubt Devers will continue to be one of the top if not the top third baseman in all of baseball.  The Boston Red Sox would be smart to offer him an extension as they are rumored to do so this offseason.

Hopefully, it will be enough to keep the budding star in Boston for seasons to come and not end up in the predicament the team now finds themselves in with Betts potentially not signing with the team beyond 2020.

Home/Boston Red Sox