In a familiar sight to Boston Red Sox fans, Rafael Devers isn’t playing the infield to start the 2026 season.
The San Francisco Giants are starting Devers at designated hitter for the second straight game. He’ll bat third against the New York Yankees on Friday.
Casey Schmitt will draw another start at first base, where Devers finished the 2025 campaign after Boston traded him to San Francisco. Giants manager Tony Vitello explained before the game, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic, that Devers is feeling “a little bit” of a hamstring issue.
Although Devers could play first base if necessary, the Giants don’t want to rush him back to the diamond.
Devers’ defensive position was a hot talking point last year. Despite preferring to stay at third base, the two-time Silver Slugger accepted a move to DH after the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to play the hot corner.
During the season, Devers resisted another shift to first base after Triston Casas injured his knee. The Red Sox pulled off a stunning blockbuster in June, sending the All-Star to the Giants for Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, James Tibbs III and Jose Bello.
Bello remains the only one of those players in the Red Sox organization, but Roman Anthony’s arrival and a playoff berth eased some disappointment about moving Devers. Furthermore, Devers posted a modest .236/.347/.460 slash line in 90 games after the trade.
The Red Sox now have the DH spot available to keep their four outfielders (Anthony, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela) in the starting lineup. They acquired Willson Contreras to play first base and moved Harrison in a trade for third baseman Caleb Durbin.
Red Sox fans have incentive to root for Devers with the Giants facing a Yankees squad he’s tormented throughout his career. The 29-year-old will face Massachusetts native Cam Schlittler after going 1-for-4 with a single in Wednesday night’s season-opening loss.
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