Rafael Devers

Rafael Devers
Boston Red Sox
Third baseman
Born: (1996-10-24) October 24, 1996
Sánchez. Dominican Republic
Bats: Left Throws: Right
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Devers and the second or maternal family name is Calcaño.

Rafael Devers Calcaño is a third baseman who plays in the Boston Red Sox Minor League system. Listed at 6' 0" (1.83 m), 195 lb. (88 k), Devers bats left-handed and throws right-handed. He was born in Sánchez. Dominican Republic.[1]

The Red Sox signed 17-year-old free agent Rafael Devers in August 2013. Devers, who ranked 6th overall among the top 50 international prospects, agreed to a $1.5 million deal.[2] At the time he was considered by some scouts to be the best left-handed hitter available on the international market, according to a MLB.com report.[3]

Devers debuted on May 31, 2014 with the Dominican Summer League Red Sox rookie club. He had a promising start in his first season of professional ball, as he went 14-for-30 for a .467 batting average and slugged .800 in eight games to claim SoxProspects.com Player of the Week honors.[1] In June he continued to show his value leading the DSL Sox with a slash line of .337/.445/.538, three home runs and 21 RBI, walking more times (21) than he struck out (20), while playing in all 28 of the team's games thus far and had reached base in all but one. In addition, his .983 on-base plus slugging statistic was rare for the DSL level, while his .533 slugging average in this period is the highest mark for an everyday player for the Red Sox since at least 2005, which is as far back as online statistics for the DSL go. On July 3, he was promoted to the Gulf Coast League Red Sox of the Rookie Class GCL.[4]

Devers did not miss a beat after his promotion. He hit .372 and slugged .564 in 22 July games for the GCL Red Sox, including seven doubles, two homers, 31 RBI and a huge .438 on-base percentage, to be named SoxProspects.com Player of the Month.[5]

Overall, Devers finished his rookie season with a .322/.404/.506 line, seven home runs and 57 RBI, while appearing in 70 games across two minor league levels. He posted 36 RBI for the Sox, tying for third in the GCL, and also ranked among the top 10 in batting average (.312). He later contributed with a game-winning homer and three RBI in the playoffs, as the GFL Red Sox claimed their second Championship title.[6] Additionally, he was named to the 2014 GCL Postseason All-Stars team.[7]  It was just the latest part in what was an impressive first season in the Sox system despite his youth. As such, he climbed from No. 13 to No. 5 in MLB.com's latest ranking of Red Sox prospects this season.[1]

Devers joined Low Class A Greenville Drive in 2015, where he kept hitting the ball with authority and gained a selection to the South Atlantic League All-Star Game. Soon after, MLB.com announced that Devers would be member of the World Team roster in the All-Star Futures Game.[8]

Devers was invited by the Boston Red Sox to participate on its 2016 spring training. He then was promoted to High-A Salem Red Sox to start the regular season. He is currently rated as the Red Sox's No. 3 prospect and No. 14 overall, according to MLB.com.[9]

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 "Boston Red Sox prospects – Rafael Devers page".
  2. ↑ Top prospect Devers among four Boston signings. MLB.com, Retrieved on November 19, 2014.
  3. ↑ 2013 International Prospects Watch. MLB.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2014
  4. ↑ Rafael Devers promoted to the Gulf Coast League. SoxProspects.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ July 2014 Players of the Month: 3B Rafael Devers and P Cody Kukuk. SoxProspects.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ Guerra, Devers help Red Sox take GCL lead. MiLB.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2014.
  7. ↑ Gulf Coast League announces postseason All-Stars. MiLB.com. Retrieved on November 19, 2014.
  8. ↑ Greenville Drive's Rafael Devers selected to Futures Game. GreenvilleOnLine.com. Retrieved on June 26, 2015.
  9. ↑ 2016 MLB Prospects Watch – Boston Red Sox Top 30 Prospects list midseason update. MLB.com. Retrieved on March 24, 2016.
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