Former Red Sox Star Rafael Devers Ducking Giants Media Amid Rough Season originally appeared on NESN.
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San Francisco Giants first baseman/designated hitter Rafael Devers is off to a very slow start during the 2026 season.
The former Boston Red Sox All-Star has posted a career-worst .230/.267/.320 slash line with -0.7 wins above replacement (WAR), two home runs, nine RBIs and just five walks against 33 strikeouts.
To make matters worse, Giants senior writer Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reported Friday that Devers has been avoiding reporters amid his early-season struggles.
“Devers declined to be interviewed for this story. He consistently avoided beat reporters who requested him on the past road trip. He hasn’t given an interview since April 8, when he hit a home run in a home victory over the Philadelphia Phillies,” Baggarly wrote. “During batting practice Wednesday afternoon, he raced down the dugout stairs past this reporter without stopping, saying he had to go hit in an indoor cage. Less than two minutes later, Devers exited the cage and disappeared back to the clubhouse.”
With a lengthy list of accomplishments that includes three All-Star honors and two Silver Slugger awards, Devers could very well turn things around soon.
ESPN.com senior writer Buster Olney ranked the 29-year-old among MLB’s top-10 first basemen entering the 2026 campaign.
Baggarly spoke with Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey about Devers and the former NL MVP catcher remained optimistic that Raffy would improve.
Still, avoiding the media hasn’t been a good look for Devers.
“The Giants did not acquire Devers to be a club spokesperson. They have other players like Matt Chapman and Willy Adames to fulfill that obligation. But some accountability should be expected, given the club’s commitment to Devers, his importance to the organization and the fact that he’s under contract through 2033,” Baggarly wrote. “For now, Devers isn’t making himself available to answer even softball questions.”
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