Boston Red Sox fans are still waiting for a glimpse of Rafael Devers as MLB spring training nears its final stretch. The veteran third baseman's spring debut has been temporarily placed on hold due to his having issues with timing at the plate, resulting in Red Sox manager Alex Cora giving Devers as much time as he needed to get back on track.
Over the weekend, The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey reported that Devers was scheduled to make his first spring training appearance against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. It was the news that Red Sox fans were desperately waiting for.
Unfortunately, things have already taken a turn for the worse... again.
Red Sox Delay Rafael Devers Spring Training Debut to Saturday
Cora shared a disappointing Devers-related update before Tuesday's exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies. According to McCaffrey, the 28-year-old slugger still needs more time to get ready and won't suit up until Saturday afternoon's tilt with the Atlanta Braves.
Cora then confirmed that Devers will face off against pitchers Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler in back-field games on Wednesday and Thursday.
On one hand, it's understandable that the Red Sox want to play it safe with Devers. He's crucial to any success the club will see, and the last thing Cora wants is for the three-time MLB All-Star to show up ill-prepared for Opening Day.
On the other hand, the frustration that Red Sox fans are feeling is more than justified. There's been some tension around Devers ever since he made it clear he wasn't happy with the idea of being replaced by Alex Bregman at third base, and the fact that the former has yet to suit up this spring has only further frustrated the fanbase.
Hopefully, the next few days will help Devers shake off any rust so that he can immediately contribute once the 2025 regular season begins. The Dominican left-handed batter will be looking to build off a 2024 All-Star campaign that saw him rack up 28 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 67 walks while slashing .272/.354/.516 across 138 appearances (525 at-bats).
The Red Sox need all of their top players to contribute if they want to chase a championship, and that includes Devers. Fortunately, the club's outlook is bright as Boston heads into the rest of spring training tied for the seventh-best 2025 World Series odds (+1800) on FanDuel Sportsbook.
More Boston Red Sox News & Rumors:
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.