Red Sox DH/3B Rafael Devers had a dramatic back-and-forth with the front office executives of the organization after they asked the Dominican to play first base following an injury to infielder Triston Casas. Devers vehemently declined to play defense at first base and voiced his frustration with Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.
Casas suffered a ruptured patellar tendon on his left knee after attempting to run towards the first base on a slow roller in the series opener against the Minnesota Twins on May 2. He fell awkwardly and then lay on his back near the base. Ultimately, he was stretchered off the field.
Casas underwent a knee operation that has sidelined him for a year. Subsequently, the position on first base was open, and the Red Sox started deliberating possible replacements for Casas on first base, one of whom was lefty slugger Devers.
Red Sox DH Rafael Devers Refused to Play First Base Over GM’s Ill-considered Request
Devers produced an emphatic performance in the series finale against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on Thursday. The DH crushed a home run, drove in two runs, and finished the game with two hits in four ABs as the Red Sox shut out the Rangers 5-0. With the win, Boston sealed yet another series victory this season.
After the game, Devers addressed the media and reflected positively on his performance in the series finale. He also shed light on the request by the GM and the front office staff asking him to play at first base after Casas’ injury and voiced his frustration at them for making the hasty request.
In the media interview, he said, “Here in the clubhouse, thankfully, the relationship that I have with my teammates is great. I don’t understand some of the decisions that the GM makes. Next thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt, and they want me to play in the outfield.”
Raffy has always been a traditional third baseman. He has never played at any other position in the infield and moved to the DH position to make way for new recruit and two-time World Series champion Alex Bregman, who had signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox during the offseason.
Devers is having a fairly decent season with the Red Sox in 2025. He has a .255 batting average, with six home runs, 25 RBIs, and an .834 OPS in 39 games played so far this campaign. He is projecting over 25 home runs and more than 100 RBIs this season. The Red Sox have largely remained consistent in their games this season.
They possess a 20-19 overall record and acquire second place in the AL East standings, just two games behind current leaders, the New York Yankees. Raffy and Co. will now hit the road to take on the Kansas City Royals in a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.