This may work nicely.
Being a designated hitter isn't easy. It's antithetical to all of the baseball rhythms developed over a lifetime on the diamond.
Before Tuesday night, all Rafael Devers had done this season was be a DH. He began the year 0-for-21 for the Boston Red Sox before getting hot and looking mostly like his old self. But then since his trade to the San Francisco Giants, Devers was a slumping DH yet again.
On Tuesday, the Giants put Devers back into the field, making his MLB debut as a first baseman.
And, maybe not so coincidentally, Devers had a strong day at the plate.
The lefty slugger went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. He took good swings and made hard contact throughout.
MORE: Former Yankees, Astros slugger reaches 500 career home runs far from home
Afterward, he explained to reporters how playing the field is helpful for him: “It keeps me active. It keeps my head out of just thinking about the next at-bat... I’d rather be on the field than in the cage hitting all the time and thinking about the next at-bat.”
Devers also avoided any mishaps with the glove, a good sign.
To play Devers at first on Tuesday, the Giants put Wilmer Flores at DH. Those guys conceptually could flip-flop back and forth, but it might be worth it for San Francisco to see if being back in the field really does wake Devers' bat up. Because there are very few hitters better than Devers when he's feeling good.
MORE MLB NEWS:
- Red Sox incredible yips comeback retires after 9 MLB seasons
- Blue Jays' Addison Barger could hit from the wrong side of plate and be a star
- Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson once had the most legendary clash at Yankee Stadium
- Cal Raleigh, aka Big Dumper, signs the perfect endorsement deal
- Aaron Judge reveals how long he plans to play in MLB
- Tarik Skubal has done the same thing in 122 of his 123 MLB starts
Category: Baseball
