Since making his Major League Baseball debut in the summer of 2017, Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers has been one of the most productive offensive third basemen in baseball.
Even including the shortened 2020 campaign, the 28-year-old Devers has averaged 27 home runs and 87 RBI per season, earning three All-Star appearances, two Silver Slugger Awards, and a 10-year, $313.5 extension along the way.
Yet while Devers’ offense has never been in question, his defense is a whole different story. He leads all active third basemen with 141 errors in just eight seasons, and his .944 fielding percentage is the lowest of any third baseman with at least 500 games played. The advanced metrics aren’t any kinder, as Devers has been worth -29 Outs Above Average since 2021.
Though Devers has been adamant about his desire to stay at third baseman, the Red Sox’s signing of Alex Bregman has put his long-term future at the position in doubt. Bregman was one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball during his time with the Houston Astros and was finally rewarded with his first Gold Glove Award in 2024. There is no question that Bregman is a better defensive third baseman than Devers, and the question about whether he will take over the position or slide over to second base to accommodate Devers has dominated Red Sox camp all spring.
The conversation is complicated even further with the presence of second baseman Kristian Campbell. MLB.com’s seventh-ranked prospect exploded onto the scene with a .330/.439/.558 line across three levels in 2024, and it’s clear that the Red Sox think he is the long-term solution at second base. Though he has gotten off to a rocky start this spring, MassLive’s Sean McAdam believes he will ultimately win the second base job, resulting in Bregman manning the hot corner and Devers being relegated to designated hitter duties.
“Devers will be healthy enough to make the Opening Day roster. The conversation about his position will be incessant until then,” wrote McAdam. “When people like (Craig) Breslow and (Alex) Cora diplomatically note that ‘these things tend to work themselves out,’ they’re basically saying that Devers will eventually play where they want him to play. If Campbell shows out and claims second base, that spot will be designated hitter.”
Devers has yet to play this spring due to shoulder soreness, but he is expected to make his spring debut on Wednesday, albeit as a designated hitter. He will eventually get time at third base this spring, but with the presence of a better defensive third baseman now on the roster and an emerging rookie at second base, Devers may be facing an uphill battle to retain his position.
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