There are some benefits to having Rafael Devers be a designated hitter. Frankly, outside of upsetting the Boston Red Sox’s best player, there isn’t much of a problem with him being a long-term designated hitter.
Sure, one could look at his massive $313.5 million deal and say it’s a problem that he’s a designated hitter, but Devers is a terrible third baseman, no matter how anybody wants to say it.
His defensive metrics don’t suggest that he’s anything more than a below-average fielder, evident by his league-leading errors in nearly every season of his big league career at third base.
However, outside of it being a positive that the Red Sox don’t have to play him at third base, this also gives Devers an opportunity to be healthy.
Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (11) runs the bases after hitting a three run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning at Fenway Park.
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
He’s played in every single game this season, and there’s something to be said about that. He also acknowledged it, and his comments should make all Red Sox fans happy.
“I feel good. I feel healthy,” Devers said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez, per MassLive. “You don’t know what’s going to happen during the season. But at this point in time … I feel very good. I feel healthy. I feel like I can do that.”
More to that comment, Devers added that he feels good because he’s hitting the baseball now.
He also added that the team is playing very well, saying that the team is clicking.
After reports suggesting that he could become frustrated with his current situation, it sure doesn’t sound like that when he spoke.
“It feels good … because I wasn’t hitting the ball,” Devers said. “I feel like we’re playing very good baseball all around. Defensively, the pitchers are doing their job, the bullpen, base running, hitting. So I think everything’s clicking right now.”
