Rafael Devers’ ascent in Boston began as a spark for the 2018 World Series championship squad. While he was initially known for his youthful exuberance and occasional defensive growing pains, he quickly evolved into one of the most feared left-handed hitters in the game. In 2019, he batted .311 and led the American League with 54 doubles and 201 hits. This 90-extra-base-hit campaign signaled his arrival as the elite middle-of-the-order anchor the Red Sox had lacked since the retirement of David Ortiz.
From 2021 to 2024, he maintained a remarkable floor of at least 27 home runs and a .500 slugging percentage each year. He reached new heights during the 2024–2025 stretch, where he surpassed Red Sox legends like Mookie Betts and Tony Conigliaro on the franchise home run list before even turning 28. In mid-2025, he reached a massive milestone, launching his 200th career home run as a member of the Red Sox, joining Eddie Mathews and Manny Machado as the only third basemen to reach that mark at such a young age.
As good as Devers was, the whispers grew louder that he was unhappy. He refused to move positions, and though he was still producing, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants during the 2025 season. He left Boston with 215 home runs, 1,136 hits, and a stellar .279 batting average over nine seasons with three All-Stars, two Silver Sluggers, and a run of MVP votes.
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