Red Sox News: Rafael Devers showing he’s ‘one of the best hitters’ in MLB

The one thing the Boston Red Sox ownership did right was extending Rafael Devers to a long-term deal worth $313.5 million in the offseason.  Homeboy is certainly proving his worth early in the 2023 MLB season.

Though there is not much around him in the lineup on paper, Devers has been a hot bat in the Red Sox batting order, especially recently.

That includes Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in which the Sox All-Star third baseman came up clutch with a two-run homer to get his team within a run of tying the game.

The 416-foot blast showed why Devers is so dangerous at the plate and why Red Sox Nation was clamoring for ownership to give this young stud his money and keep him around for years to come.

Talking about Devers following the game, Red Sox manager Alex Cora marveled at what his young hitter brings to the plate.

"“That was a great at-bat,” Cora said of the sixth inning blast.  “Was late on a 2-0 fastball and then he kept battling and battling and battling and put a good swing on it.”"

Boston Red Sox have a feared hitter in Rafael Devers

The at-bat was exemplary of the tear Devers has been on all season.  With the homer on Saturday, Devers now has 8 homers on the season with 20 RBI and is batting .264.  The average can be better, but when he connects good things have been happening for this Red Sox team that has been better than advertised.

Despite the 5-4 loss, the Boston Red Sox have been getting solid starting pitching and players like Alex Verdugo and Yu Chang have provided some spark in a lineup that will eventually need another power bat to support Devers in the lineup.

Earlier in the season, that bat was Adam Duvall before he fractured his wrist.  The team is hoping and waiting for Triston Casas to be that bat more consistently.  Until then, the team must rely on Devers to carry the team.   He did have a chance to bring the team completely back in his last at-bat which resulted in a strikeout.

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With a runner on second, Devers struck out in the eighth with credit given to Brewers reliever Hoby Milner. But just his plate presence had the opposing team fearful and that is just how dangerous he is.

"“No question, that was two huge outs, and to get two strikeouts there,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of that eighth inning.  “Rafael Devers is one of the best hitters in this league.  Every time he comes through, you worry for sure.  [Milner] made some great pitches and got it done.”"

A big contract extension aside, Devers said he’s been feeling good since Spring Training, and it is showing.  Despite the lack of big bats in the lineup, he is leading an offense that has been near the top of the American League in runs scored and extra base hits.

Now that the pitching is coming along,  the Red Sox may be one of the surprise teams in 2023 and we are all here for it.