New Giant Rafael Devers turns the page on Boston, excited for second half in S.F.
Designated hitter Rafael Devers celebrates after hitting an RBI double in the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians on June 17 at Oracle Park, his first game with the Giants. (Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle)
Changing organizations for the first time can be tough, in midseason even more so. And yet, for Rafael Devers, joining the San Francisco Giants in mid-June after spending his entire career in Boston was no sweat.
Devers fit right in right away, the new designated hitter and (eventually) first baseman told the Chronicle this week, even without a spring training to learn his teammates' and coaches' personalities.
"This is baseball," Devers said, his customary smile even wider as Erwin Higueros interpreted. "This is the easiest part. It's very easy to make friends. It's very easy to get along with everybody. The best thing is just to go ahead and get to know everybody."
He already knew Giants shortstop Willy Adames from the Dominican Republic and from playing against him, and the charismatic Adames got Devers right into the spirit of things to the point that when Adames earned a Gatorade shower postgame at Sacramento over the weekend, Devers helped Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos orchestrate the surprise attack during the postgame TV interview.
The Giants' Rafael Devers hits a two-run home run against his former team, the Boston Red Sox, during the third inning on June 21 at Oracle Park. (Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)
Less welcoming, perhaps, especially for a left-handed hitting slugger, is Oracle Park itself, which is second worst for lefty power in the majors after Kansas City over the past three seasons. Devers' first homer in San Francisco was to the opposite field, and the second went out to center.
The less-than-salubrious numbers for lefties, post-Barry Bonds, don't concern Devers in the least. "I know the kind of player I am," he said. "I know I have power, and the minute that I make good contact, the ball is going to just go out. Eventually, I'm going to be myself."
In the meantime, his favorite part of the park is its denizens, many of whom are already sporting Devers jerseys. "I really like the ballpark, especially the fans," he said. "Having a lot of fans at the stadium, and they're all cheering for the team, it kind of motivates you to do better."
Fans at Oracle Park exult as designated hitter Rafael Devers walks to the plate to bat for his first plate appearances with the Giants in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians on June 17. (Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle)
He has yet to be at full health for his new fans, though, with groin and back issues that he says have not affected his swing but have slowed him on the bases. "The difference when you're 100% healthy is then I can run, I can go first to third, I can score on a double," he said. "There are so many things that I can do when I'm healthy."
Even with his minor maladies, Devers is continuing to work out at first base and could play the position sometime after the All-Star break. It's not easy to learn a new position on the fly during the season - Devers played third base for the Red Sox until this year, and his reluctance to shift to first there after the season had started is what made him available on the trade market, a nice result for the Giants.
Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox, his former team, and starting pitcher Brayan Bello, left, during the third inning on June 21 at Oracle Park. (Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)
He took a lot of flak in Boston for declining to play first after already having moved from third to DH this season. Hall of Famer David Ortiz, a Red Sox icon and someone Devers considers a friend, hammered him after the deal, including saying on Instagram: "The Red Sox didn't disrespect Devers. He disrespected himself. He comes to spring training out of shape and being the third baseman with the worst defense, they sign a Gold Glove and he won't accept another position."
Another Red Sox Hall of Famer, Pedro Martinez, came to Devers' defense in the wake of Ortiz's comments, saying, "I was shocked by the deal, because if you try to sell to me, knowing Raffy Devers, that Raffy is a bad teammate or he's not a team player, you're lying."
Designated hitter Rafael Devers pauses during his first at-bat with the Giants, coming against the Cleveland Guardians at Oracle Park on June 17. (Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle)
Devers largely has demurred when asked about his departure from Boston, and when asked about Ortiz's comments, he said this week, "I have nothing to say about him. I respect him. I love him. He's one that likes to express his opinions, and I respect that, but I have nothing to say."
After playing third for so long, Devers should be decent at first base, but there's little doubt that the best time for him to learn the spot is this winter and during spring training. Devers has been working with the Giants coaches and talking to teammates Wilmer Flores and Dominic Smith, and is eager to spend time with former Giants Gold Glove-winning first basemen Will Clark and J.T. Snow whenever possible.
"Whoever wants to help me, I'm willing to listen," Devers said.
Rafael Devers declined to play first base with his former team, the Boston Red Sox, but has been taking grounders at first with the Giants, here before his first game with San Francisco on June 17. (Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle)
When Devers was traded, he was leading the American League in All-Star DH voting, but that doesn't carry over when dealt. "That doesn't bother me," he said. "Of course the All-Star Game is something that motivates you, but I'm not going to feel bad about that."
He's not sure yet where he'll spend the break next week, but he's looking forward to trying San Francisco seafood whenever possible. He's from Sánchez, a waterfront town in the Dominican Republic.
"Samaná Province, where I grew up, is one of the most beautiful areas in the Dominican," he said. "Everything is surrounded by water, so of course I love seafood."
The break might move Devers closer to full health, and he predicts big things for his new team, especially after getting third baseman Matt Chapman and second baseman Casey Schmitt back off the injured list in the past week.
"We have a great bullpen. We have great starters," he said. "Everything is very positive here, everyone is very happy, it's amazing how happy everyone is. Everyone gets along. I definitely see that we're going to do a lot of damage once the second half starts."
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