Red Sox must be fuming as Rafael Devers gains new skill with SF Giants

SF Giants slugger Rafael Devers has started playing more at first base for the SF Giants as of late. While he had some struggles early on, more recently he has looked a lot more comfortable at the position which the Boston Red Sox must hate.

When the Giants made their blockbuster trade to land slugger Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox, it was unclear where he would play. He publicly refused to play first base in Boston, but he quickly made it clear he was willing to play anywhere with the Giants.

Rafael Devers' defense at first base has improved for SF Giants

It took him a while to make good on that promise as he dealt with injuries to his groin and back, but he eventually did make his career debut at first base. Having him at first base is a luxury because it allows manager Bob Melvin to have a bit more flexibility with the lineup and use guys other than Devers at designated hitter.

The growing pains he had early on were to be expected and were part of what the Giants signed up for when they made the huge trade to land him. Yet, it stood to reason that Devers would adjust and become more comfortable the more time he spent at the position.

It seems that is starting to happen. On Friday night against the Washington Nationals, Devers made a very nice play at first as he cleanly fielded a ground ball with a runner on first, stepped on the bag, then delivered a perfect throw to second base where shortstop Willy Adames applied the tag for the double play.

It may seem like a simple play, but it is not easy for a first baseman to have to throw the ball to second base with a runner in the base line. Devers made it look routine.

He also made a nice play when the bases were loaded with no outs and he handled a ground ball nicely before throwing it home to prevent the run from scoring.

Devers is obviously in the lineup mainly for his bat, but if he can continue to improve at first base and become a good defender there then that is a skill the Giants were not counting on when they acquired him.

While the Red Sox are probably not completely apoplectic about this development given they have played very well since trading Devers, it surely is annoying to see him playing well at a position he was refusing to play earlier in the year.

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