Red Sox three-time All-Star Rafael Devers plans to make his spring training debut next week, but where he plays in the field for Boston remains a mystery.
Devers focused on building strength in his shoulders because of injuries last season and has not yet played in a Grapefruit League game for the Red Sox this spring. Boston started new addition Alex Bregman at third base on Friday and he entered the game batting .400 this spring.
Devers is scheduled to be used as Boston’s designated hitter in his first game action of 2025, which will be either Tuesday or Wednesday at Fenway South in Fort Myers.
“He needs the reps on the field, but (also to) understand what he is working on. Obviously, (we are talking about) the shoulder. We have to be patient,” manager Alex Cora said Friday. “The goal for him is to be ready for Texas [on Opening Day].”
When the Red Sox signed Bregman, Devers was defensive about holding onto his preferred spot at third, referring to it as “my spot.”
Bregman said he’s willing to play second base. One of the organization’s top prospects, Kristian Campbell is a second baseman, but he began spring in a 1-for-17 slump with nine strikeouts. He had a .330 batting average over three levels of minor-league baseball in the Red Sox system last year and was named Hitting Prospect of the Year.
Cora addressed the perceived Bregman-Devers friction early in camp, dispelling the notion there wasn’t room for both on Boston’s roster. He’s still not showing his hand about how the Red Sox might deploy them in the regular season.
“I’ve been answering this question a lot of times, and I’m going to give you the same answer: The decision will be made when we have to,” Cora said Friday. “There is a lot of competition out there. Versatility and athleticism will come into play and we’ll take the best 26 [players] to Texas. We are going to have our best defensive and offensive lineup for the first game of the season.”
Another factor for Cora to consider: Bregman won the American League Gold Glove last season while Devers led AL third basemen in errors for the seventh straight season.
–Field Level Media
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