Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Won't play third base this spring
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that it's very unlikely Devers will play third base before the end of spring training, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Cora still hasn't officially announced that Alex Bregman will be his third baseman and Devers will be his designated hitter this season, but that will be the setup for the foreseeable future with Devers unable to play the field. Devers has just two games under his belt this spring, as he's been working on getting his timing down at the plate following last season's shoulder issues.
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Making spring debut Saturday
Rotowire
Devers (shoulders) is batting second as the designated hitter in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
It's the first official appearance of spring training for Devers, who was built up slowly during the first half of camp after his shoulder problems last year. The 28-year-old appears set to begin the season as Boston's primary designated hitter, as he said Thursday he's OK with being utilized that way after previously indicating that he was unwilling to move off third base. That development will allow Alex Bregman to step in at the hot corner after signing a deal worth up to $120 million in February, though the Red Sox haven't officially announced their plans on who will play where.
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Now says he's willing to DH
Rotowire
Devers (shoulders) said Thursday that he is OK with being a designated hitter if that's where the Red Sox choose to use him, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Devers was speaking publicly for the first time since telling reporters in mid-February that he was a third baseman and was unwilling to be a DH. The 28-year-old has spoken with manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow since then, and while he wanted to keep the details of that conversation to himself, he now appears amendable to serving as the team's DH. The Red Sox have not yet announced a decision on where Devers or Alex Bregman will play, but all signs point to Devers indeed being the DH while Bregman handles third base. Devers homered during a simulated game Thursday and is expected to finally make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday against Atlanta.
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Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Set to play in sim game
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that he expects Devers (shoulders) to take at-bats during a simulated game Thursday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
If all goes well in the sim game, Devers could be cleared to make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday versus Atlanta. Devers appears to be further away from taking part in full defensive drills at third base, making it likelier by the day that he'll be limited to a designated-hitter duties to begin the 2025 campaign. If that's the case, Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) would presumably open the season on the injured list, as he's been making starts at DH this spring but has yet to complete his throwing progression and could be weeks away from being ready to play the corner outfield.
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Likely to begin season at DH
Rotowire
Devers (shoulders) is "increasingly likely" to open the season as Boston's designated hitter, with Alex Bregman playing third base, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Devers hasn't made his Grapefruit League debut yet and all of Bregman's action this spring has come at third base. So, while manager Alex Cora has declined to address the situation, it's pretty clear where this is headed. Devers is currently slated to make his spring debut Saturday, although his debut has already been pushed back multiple times as he works on his swing mechanics that were thrown off by last year's shoulder problems.
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Red Sox's Rafael Devers: On track for Wednesday debut
Rotowire
Devers (shoulders) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday versus the Twins, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
The Red Sox have been proceeding slowly with Devers as he builds up strength in both of his shoulders. Assuming he plays Wednesday, he will have plenty of time to get ready for the March 27 season opener versus the Rangers, but the question remains as to whether he'll play third base or serve as the Red Sox's designated hitter on Opening Day. Devers made it clear earlier in camp that he views himself as Boston's third baseman, even after the team signed Alex Bregman.
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Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Spring debut pushed back again
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Devers (shoulders) is now slated to make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday versus Atlanta, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
The initial plan called for Devers to make his spring debut March 5, but that's now been pushed back twice. Instead, he will face Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler on the back fields on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, before making his first official game appearance Saturday. That gives Devers just over a week's worth of games to get ready for Opening Day. The Red Sox have not indicated any worry about how Devers is doing physically following last year's shoulder problems, pointing to him simply working on getting his timing down. Still, it's an atypical situation that raises red flags.
Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Aiming to debut next week
Rotowire
Devers (shoulders) is targeting Tuesday or Wednesday for his Grapefruit League debut, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
That would be about a week after his originally scheduled spring debut, as Devers has been working on getting his timing down in live batting practice before testing things out in a game. He's been brought along slowly in camp due to last season's shoulder problems, but he doesn't seem to have had any physical setbacks. While Devers will have less than two weeks of spring games to prep for Opening Day, it doesn't appear his availability for that March 27 contest versus the Rangers is in danger.
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