SAN FRANCISCO -- The Rafael Devers era is here.
The Giants’ new star slugger was officially introduced during a press conference at Oracle Park prior to Tuesday night’s 3-2 series-opening loss to the Guardians.
Devers’ arrival came two days after San Francisco acquired the three-time All-Star in a blockbuster deal with the Red Sox, who received left-hander Kyle Harrison, right-hander Jordan Hicks, 2024 first-round Draft pick James Tibbs III and pitching prospect Jose Bello in return.
Devers was in the second year of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension he signed with Boston in 2023, but mounting tensions between two sides ultimately led to their stunning divorce this week. Despite the messy exit, Devers thanked the Red Sox for giving him a chance to sign out of his native Dominican Republic as a 16-year-old in 2013 and said he’s looking forward to beginning his new chapter with the Giants.
“What happened with the Red Sox is in the past,” Devers said in Spanish. “I’m someone who takes it day by day and will give it my best now that I’m here. I think the reason they brought me here is to win. I’m someone who likes to win and compete.”
Devers received a standing ovation from the crowd each time he stepped up to the plate, going 2-for-5 with an RBI double that briefly gave San Francisco a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Devers’ first hit for the Giants was smoked into the right-center-field gap and came off his bat at 111.4 mph, tied for the club’s sixth-hardest-hit ball of the year.
“I was a little bit nervous before my first at-bat, but I was also excited because of the ovation from the fans,” said Devers, who added an opposite-field single off Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase in the bottom of the ninth. “I was happy because they gave me a great welcome.”
Devers batted third and started at designated hitter in his Giants debut, but manager Bob Melvin said the 28-year-old is expected to start taking grounders at first base for the first time in his career -- a notable development given that positional disagreements were at the heart of Devers’ falling out in Boston.
Devers wasn’t happy when he was asked to move off third base to accommodate free-agent addition Alex Bregman, initially refusing to accept a switch to DH before eventually relenting and taking on the new role. The situation only worsened when Devers declined to play first base following a season-ending injury to Triston Casas, prompting the Red Sox to unload their homegrown star and final remaining member of their 2018 World Series champion team.
While Matt Chapman is expected to miss several weeks with a sprained right hand, the Giants have been pleased with the production they’ve gotten out of Casey Schmitt at third base so far, meaning Devers will likely split his time between DH and first base for now. Devers got some work in at first on Tuesday, but the Giants want to get him up to speed before they consider giving him his first start at the position.
“We talked to him a little bit today. He goes, ‘I’ll play wherever you want me to play, I’ll hit wherever you want me to hit,’” Melvin said. “He’s going to DH today. He’s going to hit in the three-spot. We’re going to work him in and get him some ground balls at first and make sure he’s comfortable before we put him over there. That’s pretty much the way we’re looking at it right now, a little bit of DH and a little bit of first.”
“I’m here to help the team with whatever they need and whatever they want,” Devers said. “I’m just another member of the team, and I’m going to be willing to give my 100 percent wherever they put me. I don’t have any ‘buts.’ I don’t really have a say. They’re my bosses, so I’m going to play wherever they put me.”
No matter where Devers is on the field, the Giants realize they are adding a slugging force to their lineup.
“Great players have the ability to transcend generations, and Rafael Devers is one of those players,” president of baseball operations Buster Posey said. “What does it mean to be a ‘dude’ in baseball speak? It’s not something you can quantify. It’s somebody that has the ultimate feel when the game is on the line. He’s the type of player that makes his teammates around him better. Rafael Devers is a dude. He’s been at the top. He’s won it all. We can’t wait to watch him help us bring a World Series championship back to San Francisco.”
Wearing a new number -- 16, because his old No. 11 is already retired by the Giants in honor of Carl Hubbell -- Devers is already feeling the love in San Francisco, particularly from his new teammates, the majority of whom were in attendance for his 27-minute press conference. Franchise icon Barry Bonds was also sitting in the front row, serving as another source of inspiration for Devers, who could have a shot at becoming the Giants’ first 30-homer hitter since the Home Run King in 2004.
“I think by just seeing him, I’ve already gotten a lot better,” Devers joked.