The Red Sox will have to wait a little bit longer for Rafael Devers’ 2025 spring training debut.
Devers was supposed to see his first game action in Fort Myers, Fla., either Tuesday or Wednesday, but the three-time All-Star won’t suit up until Saturday. Boston is erring on the side of caution with Devers, who continues to recover from sore shoulders.
Prior to the Red Sox’s exhibition clash with the Atlanta Braves, Devers will take live batting practice against Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler, per MassLive’s Sean McAdam citing an update from Alex Cora. Boston’s manager also provided a more detailed explanation of Devers’ rehab process.
“He’s been on point as far as what he needs, as far as the swing,” Devers told reporters, per McAdam. “The whole path on the inside pitch is something that he lost last year, because of the shoulders. He’s been working very hard on that path.
“It’s not a different swing; it’s just a different path, to be honest with you. It’s been trending in the right direction. He’s been off a little bit. Last week, he felt like he wasn’t getting to pitches and all that. I get that the whole thing (about playing on) the big field. But it’s two at-bats (per game) against big leaguers; he’s actually getting more at-bats in the back fields. He’s getting there, he’s getting there.
“The whole progress, from when he got here in January to where he’s at now, he feels a lot more comfortable with the inside pitch. We saw it last year — he got beat by fastballs after (getting hurt) in Colorado a lot. I think the work he’s put in there has been good. The way he’s driving the ball to left-center is something that he missed last year and he wasn’t able to do it. Right now, he’s in that spot.”
Cora also noted Devers didn’t do any swinging over the course of the winter, as the main objective for that time period was to “get his shoulders right.” And when Devers does become available for spring training games, he’ll “get some reps” at third base, per Cora.
The Red Sox have 14 spring training games left before they visit the Texas Rangers for Opening Day on March 27.