The Boston Red Sox have been playing well in spring training, however, their exhibition experience hasn't been without drama.
Two-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman's offseason arrival has left veteran slugger Rafael Devers' spot in the lineup up in the air. With second base prospect Kristian Campbell's emergence preventing Bregman from shifting over to 2B, all signs point to Devers being thrown into the designated hitter job — a role that he's openly opposed.
Having said that, Devers hasn't had a chance to even compete for the starting 3B honors this spring because of a nagging shoulder injury. Unfortunately, the latest news surrounding his ailment isn't anything to be optimistic about.
Red Sox News: Rafael Devers Still Not Ready for Spring Training Debut
Before Tuesday's 12-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Red Sox manager Alex Cora provided somewhat concerning news regarding Devers' injury — including that he won't be facing the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.
"(Devers) asked me for more live BPs, so we’ll be good with that," Cora said, per MLB.com's Ian Browne. "We'll see where we are over the weekend, but timing-wise, he's off. I'm not worried about him."
Alex Cora on Raffy's delayed Spring Training debut:
— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) March 4, 2025
“Raffy is not starting tomorrow. He asked me for more live BPs, so we’ll be good with that. We’ll see where we are over the weekend, but timing-wise, he’s off. I’m not worried about him.”
Based on Cora's response, it sounds like Devers' delayed debut has more to do with batting mechanics than it does with his shoulder injury. On the one hand, that's positive news since it sounds like he'll be healthy enough for Opening Day.
On the other hand, though, Devers' struggles with timing are concerning — especially if he's on track to be Boston's primary DH.
Hopefully, the 28-year-old slugger's timing issues will be solved within the next few weeks. Even if his positional future is up in the air, Devers is still one of the Red Sox's most important players. The Dominican 3B is coming off his third All-Star appearance in four seasons, having finished the 2024 campaign with 28 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 67 walks while batting .272 with a .871 OPS.
Assuming that he doesn't play until after this weekend at best, Devers will have 14 spring training games to help get him into regular-season form. Whether or not that's enough time to help the Red Sox get off to a hot start remains to be seen.
Boston's championship outlook could potentially improve if Devers can get his timing down, whether he's the designated hitter or playing at third. For now, the Red Sox will continue their spring training slate with the eighth-best 2025 World Series odds (+2200) on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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