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SF Giants could have Panda 2.0 on their hands in Rafael Devers

Sandoval sees similarities between himself and Devers.
ByNick San Miguel|
Jun 17, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers (16) greets his new teammates in the dugout before taking on the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Jun 17, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers (16) greets his new teammates in the dugout before taking on the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

The SF Giants have a brand new slugger in Rafael Devers after the huge blockbuster trade that Buster Posey pulled off with the Boston Red Sox. Giants legend Pablo Sandoval talked about the signing and said he sees similarities between he and Devers.

Sandoval appeared on KNBR to discuss the acquisition of Devers and he sounded as excited as many fans were when the news was announced. His comments can be viewed below:

Pablo Sandoval sees similarities between himself and new SF Giants slugger Rafael Devers

Sandoval said, "He kind of reminds me of myself," and went on to explain that Devers, like the Panda, has power from foul line to foul line. Everyone remembers Sandoval's legendary three home runs in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series, but what makes the feat even more impressive is one went to straightaway center, one went to left field, and the other went to right-center field showing that he really did have power to all fields.

Looking at Devers' career spray chart for extra-base hits, it is clear that he has power to all fields. Sandoval also went on to that he believes Oracle Park will be more advantageous for Devers than Fenway Park was because the dimensions of Oracle are better suited to him.

Considering the number of opposite field home runs Devers has hit in his career, it stands to reason that the lack of a massive wall in left field will prove to be very beneficial if he gets the ball in the air to left field. It did not take him long to discover the beauty of Triple-s Alley for a left-handed bat as he smashed an RBI double into the alleyway in his second at-bat as a Giant. It is also hard not to get excited about the prospect of Devers depositing quite a few balls into McCovey Cove over the course of his Giants tenure.

Devers is not a clone of Sandoval by any means. He only bats from the left-handed side of the plate while Sandoval was a switch hitter for most of his career. Plus, Devers does not have a reputation for swinging wildly at pitches in the dirt or at his eyes like Sandoval did throughout his career.

Nonetheless, it is cool that the Giants great sees some of himself in Devers. The Panda is still out playing ball wherever they will take him, but it's clear he still has a lot of love for the Giants and is excited that the team was able to land Devers.

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