Watch: Rafael Devers homers against the Red Sox for his first home run with the Giants
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Watch: Rafael Devers homers against the Red Sox for his first home run with the Giants
Rafael Devers hit his first home run with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. The two-run shot gave the Giants a 3-0 lead. The homer came against his former team, the Boston Red Sox. Devers was portrayed as the bad guy in his dispute with the team over reluctantly moving from third base to designated hitter and later refusing to play first base while criticizing Boston’s front office. He batted 0-for-5 on Friday in his first game against the Red Sox in his new team’s new ballpark, Oracle Park.
Devers hit the homer in the third inning, smacking a 96 mph fastball left out over the plate by Brayan Bello to the opposite field. The ball came off Devers’ bat at 105.5 mph, according to Statcast, giving it plenty of fuel to go over the left-field wall at Oracle Park. The two-run shot gave the Giants a 3-0 lead.
At the very least, Devers hitting a homer against the Red Sox would appear to be some affirmation for him after being portrayed as the bad guy in his dispute with the team over reluctantly moving from third base to designated hitter and later refusing to play first base while criticizing Boston’s front office.
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Before Devers took Bello deep on Saturday, the scenario of facing his former team so soon after being traded looked as if it might lack the drama many craved. He batted 0-for-5 on Friday in his first game against Boston. Giants manager Bob Melvin said that Devers would not play first base without getting more practice at the position.
Devers expressing a willingness to play first base in San Francisco raised eyebrows, as did his assertion that he earned respect due to his production for Boston over eight-plus seasons. Red Sox executives Sam Kennedy and Craig Breslow trying to justify the trade by saying they “could not find alignment” with Devers indicated that the relationship had soured.
However, it’s also clear that both sides want to move on from this now, based on Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s remarks after being asked if he would “clear the air” with Devers since the two were in the same ballpark this weekend.
“Clear the air about what? It’s a trade. It’s baseball. It’s a business. That’s how it works,” Cora told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. “It’s not the first guy that’s gotten traded. It’s not the last guy.”
“People have their opinions about the whole thing,” he added. “Communication, first base, DH, third base, the manager, the GM, the owner, whatever. It’s a baseball trade. From my end, I turn the page.”
Devers hitting his 16th homer of the season, his first as a National League player, may have helped turn that page.
Rafael Devers hits first home run with Giants … against Red Sox
Rafael Devers hit his first home run with the San Francisco Giants against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. Devers was traded from the Red Sox to the Giants last week. The Giants are in desperate need of help at first base. It is unclear how long the Giants will give Devers to acclimate to the new position before throwing him out there for an actual game. Since the start of 2025, Giants first basemen have averaged -1.2 wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference, the 10th-worst mark in MLB.
The San Francisco Giants shocked the MLB world last week by trading for Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers.
Devers’ discontent with the Red Sox had been well-documented all season. While shocking to see him get moved, it wasn’t shocking that the Giants, a team in desperate need of help at first base, were the team to make the trade.
Through Devers’ first four games with the Giants, he’d yet to find his swing. He had gone just 3-for-16 with one extra-base hit in those games, including an 0-for-5 performance against the Red Sox on Friday night. However, Devers finally broke out the big wood on Saturday, blasting his first home run as a Giant, against his former team.
WATCH: Rafael Devers’ first home run with Giants
Devers’ home run was an opposite-field shot, giving the Giants a three-run lead. Devers’ home run wound up being the decisive hit. The Red Sox would score two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, pushing the Giants to the brink before ultimately falling 3-2.
Rafael Devers explains why he will play first for Giants
Devers was making headlines before the series, as well. While speaking with media ahead of Friday’s tilt against the Red Sox, Devers told reporters that he felt disrespected by the Red Sox asking him to move to first so close to the start of the regular season.
Devers, through a translator, said that his outstanding numbers in Boston “earned (him) some respect.” He continued, “If they would have asked me (to play first) at the beginning of spring training, yes, I would have played.”
Had Rafael Devers ever played first prior to 2025?
Devers had never played first base in the major leagues prior to the 2025 season. Even throughout the minor leagues, Devers never once swapped corners. He did play shortstop and second base in the minors, though, and even had some time at shortstop with the Red Sox. Devers has operated as the Giants’ designated hitter in all five games he’s played with San Francisco, but has been seen taking grounders at first base prior to Giants games.
Since the start of 2025, Giants first basemen have averaged -1.2 wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference, the 10th-worst mark in MLB. Devers should play a large role in turning that figure around, but it is unclear how long the Giants will give Devers to acclimate to the new position before throwing him out there for an actual game.
Devers Hits 1st Giants Homer vs Red Sox, Key 2-Run Shot
Rafael Devers hit his first home run with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday against his former team, the Boston Red Sox. The homer, a two-run shot, came during the third inning and lifted the Giants to a 3-0 lead. This moment marks a significant shift for Devers, who has been embroiled in controversies with the Red Sox regarding his position.
Devers hit the ball at 105.5 mph, sending it over the left-field wall.
The home run was Devers’ 16th of the season and his first in the National League.
Despite Devers’ strong showing, he had struggled in his first game against Boston, going 0-for-5. The complex dynamics of his former relationship with the Red Sox highlight ongoing tensions within the organization and Devers’ transition to the Giants.
Boston manager Alex Cora has expressed a desire to move past the trade situation, indicating a focus on the future.
Devers’ willingness to play multiple positions has raised eyebrows amid his previous reluctance with the Red Sox.
Moving forward, Devers’ role with the Giants will be closely watched, especially regarding his position flexibility and performance. The narrative surrounding the trade could evolve as he continues to adapt to his new team.
Devers’ first homer with the Giants signifies both a new chapter in his career and a potential closure to his contentious tenure in Boston. As he settles into his new role, the ongoing scrutiny of his position and performance will be pivotal for both him and the Giants.