MVP next step for Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers

The ceiling for Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers keeps getting higher and higher each year. So much, in fact, it should be MVP-or-bust in 2022 for the young star.

And, even with contract talks on hold, he needs to be the Red Sox top priority in building towards the future.

Devers began the season with a bang, knocking a two-run home run Friday in the first inning against the New York Yankees. Though the Red Sox ultimately lost 6-5 in 11 innings and Devers finished 1-4, the upcoming season promises to be an explosive one for Devers.

Sweet swing for Boston Red Sox

Devers has not disappointed since his arrival in Boston. He tore through the minor leagues and hasn’t stopped tearing the cover off the ball since.

The best part is that Devers is still improving and only two of his five previous seasons has seen Devers play close to the full allotment of games.

Those first two years were due to a late-July call-up in that first year and playing 121 games his second. And the 2020 season, while Devers played in mostly ever game, was shortened due to COVID-19 restrictions delaying the season’s start by over three months.

Meaning there hasn’t been as much as wear-and-tear normally seen for a player who is entering their sixth year.

In 2019 and 2021, Devers played at a near-MVP level, receiving enough votes to place 12th in ’19 and 11th in ’21.

Overall, 2019 was the slightly better overall season, though in most regards production was fairly similar between the two years. Devers hit 32 home runs that season, driving in 115 runs. He also had 201 hits and scored 129 runs while leading the American League with 54 doubles while hitting .311

Last season, Devers hit a career-high 38 home runs and finished with 113 RBI. Much of the other categories he was so good in back ’19 dipped. His average dropped to .279 with 37 doubles and Devers struck out 143 times.

The fall off in doubles is somewhat understandable, as defensive strategy against Devers adjusted. Strikeouts, however, are something I’d like to see drop again (but that’s a general note for much of baseball).

Fielding did improve for Devers in ’21, which is good to see. There were still 22 errors committed but Devers had the best fielding percentage at third base of his career, at .950.

Devers has also been a joy in the postseason as well, hitting .303 for his career. He was also a huge reason for Boston’s success last year in the postseason, hitting five home runs with 12 RBI.

If Opening Day is to be any indication, Devers is due for a huge season for the Red Sox and he is a must for Boston to lock up long term.

Boston Red Sox: A look to the future

Both Devers and Xander Bogaerts failed to reach contract extensions this offseason, and both have said they simply want to focus on the 2022 season at this point. This is absolutely the right position to take, even as the future looms over head.

Ideally, the Red Sox need to lock up both for the long haul. Bogaerts is already a Red Sox legend and Devers is definitely poised to become one.

If it comes down to it, however, Devers should be the top priority. By signing Trevor Story, the Red Sox do have a nice Plan B when it comes to the future at shortstop if a deal with Bogaerts can’t be reached. And Devers has the ability to provide 35-40 home runs a season for the next ten years.

But it’s all three on the roster which is hoped for, especially if Story succeeds at his new position of second base. Plus, if Bobby Dalbec builds off his extraordinary close to 2021, the Boston infield will be set for the next five years.

For now, though, it is Devers’ time to shine and rise to MVP in 2022. That can happen with another 35 home-run and 120-RBI season. If those other numbers creep back to 2019 levels, with 50+ doubles and better than .300 batting average, an MVP will for Devers will happen. And one hopes that will be the first of many in what will be an illustrious career.