Rafael Devers Deserves Warm Welcome in Return to Boston

The Boston Red Sox will welcome the San Francisco Giants to Fenway Park on Friday night for the first of a three-game weekend set, marking the first time former Red Sox third baseman and designated hitter Rafael Devers will return to the place he called home for nearly a decade after the 2025 trade that sent him to San Francisco. Despite the tumultuous ending to his time in Boston, the 2018 World Series Champion deserves a warm welcome back to Fenway Park from fans. 

The relationship between the Red Sox and Devers began to deteriorate throughout the offseason ahead of the 2025 season as Boston pursued free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, touting him as a potentially elite second baseman, while assuring the veteran slugger that his position at the hot corner was safe. However, when the team landed Bregman on what was effectively a one-year deal in February, they quickly named him the starting third baseman, shifting Devers to designated hitter.

After a few weeks of disgruntled behavior in spring training, Devers settled into his new role and returned to the power hitter he had been for the entirety of his career. That changed when Triston Casas went down with a season-ending knee injury and the team asked Devers to learn first base in his absence. Devers famously said Breslow should simply go out and acquire a first baseman to fill the void, which got ownership involved and led to a one-on-one meeting with John Henry. 

Ultimately, the Red Sox decided to trade their homegrown star, unceremoniously removing him from the team plane before it departed for the West Coast, sending him to San Francisco in exchange for the underwhelming return of starter Kyle Harrison and prospects James Tibbs III and Jose Bello. 

In the 14 months that have followed, fans and media have portrayed Devers as selfish for his refusal to pick up the glove and play first base, something he immediately did upon his arrival in the Bay Area. That sentiment has raised questions about whether Devers would be greeted with boos or cheers upon his return. 

Regardless of how the relationship ended, Devers is one of the best Red Sox hitters since Hall of Famer David Ortiz retired after the 2016 season. In nine seasons in Boston, Devers hit .279/.349/.510/.859 with 215 home runs. During his time with the Red Sox, Devers' weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 127 was tied for the 17th highest in baseball. 

In addition to his regular-season prowess, Devers didn’t shy away from the big moment; he will perhaps be best remembered by fans for his penchant for performing against the Yankees, against whom he posted a slash line of .269/.346/.527/.873 in 122 games. Devers particularly performed well against New York ace Gerrit Cole, going 14-for-40 with eight home runs against the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner. 

He also thrived in the postseason, hitting .303/.382/.573/.955 with eight home runs in 26 games, while being a part of the Red Sox franchise's record-setting 2018 World Series-winning team.

In a new era of Red Sox baseball, built on the backs of homegrown budding stars like Roman Anthony, Payton Tolle, Ceddanne Rafaela and, eventually, Franklin Arias upon his arrival, it’s important to note that Devers is a massive success story for a former top prospect. Devers became exactly what many expect Anthony to be: a multiple-time All-Star capable of carrying a lineup for the better part of a decade. 

Despite the rocky ending to his time in Boston, Devers should be remembered for what he was for eight of his nine years in a Red Sox uniform: a World Series-winning star who served as a power hitter at the heart of the lineup, and he should be welcomed back as such. 

First pitch between the Sox and Giants is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. Sonny Gray (15-3, 2.65 ERA) will get the start for Boston opposite Logan Webb (8-7, 3.50 ERA) for San Francisco.