Buster Posey preaches patience with struggling SF Giants slugger

SF Giants fans are well aware that slugger Rafael Devers has not gotten off to the best start with his new team. Yet, president of baseball operations Buster Posey recently went on KNBR and preached patience with Devers.

Posey clearly wants to take some pressure off Devers who must feel the weight of high expectations as the Giants traded for him thinking he was going to be a major presence in the middle of the order for years to come.

The former catcher made sure to give a little perspective to try and calm the nerves of Giants fans who may think the Devers trade has been a bust. On KNBR, Posey said of Devers: "This guy has been in one organization his entire life. Now to come over and everything is different. Not just the ballpark and teammates but where you're living, so it's an adjustment period."

Buster Posey preaches patience with SF Giants slugger Rafael Devers

These are very important points to remember. It is a very tough situation for Devers as he is trying to reckon with a brand new situation fresh off the heels of a messy exit from Boston that has been complicated further by overblown media drama.

Not only that, but Devers is dealing with a groin injury as well as a back injury. That confluence of both physical and mental challenges cannot be easy for any player to deal with, then add on the high expectations and it is no wonder he has struggled so far.

In 25 games with the Giants, Devers is slashing .202/.330/.326 with two home runs and 10 runs batted in. It is obviously a small sample size, but it is a less than ideal start to his Giants career.

Yet, those who are already declaring the Red Sox the victors of the trade are being incredibly shortsighted. It is going to take years before we can fully determine who won or lost the trade. There is plenty of time for Devers to turn things around and get his mojo back. Maybe he will turn back into the All-Star version of himself in the second half.

The All-Star break came at a perfect time for Devers. He had some time off to get his body and mind in a better place as the team heads into the second half. The Giants do not need him to be superhuman, they just need him to go out there and do what he does best which is why Posey is right that patience is key as he tries to get back on track.

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