Following the shocking blockbuster trade that sent 28-year-old All-Star slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants from the Boston Red Sox, the Dominican lefty is set to make his debut with his new threads this week.
Devers is penciled into the lineup June 17 as the DH to face off against the Cleveland Guardians in San Francisco.
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A three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and 2018 World Series champion, Devers adds much-needed power from the left side to the Giants lineup. San Francisco hasn’t had a player hit 30 or more home runs in a season since Barry Bonds back in 2004.
Rafael Devers was a three-time All-Star and World Series winner with the Red Sox.
Devers made headlines prior to the season after the Red Sox signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman to effectively replace Raffy in the field. While Devers initially insisted that he’s a third baseman, he ultimately embraced a new role as the team’s full-time designated hitter, where he saw yet more success after a brutal start to 2025 — setting an MLB record for the most strikeouts in a player’s first four games of a season.
At the time of the trade, Devers led the league by drawing 56 walks, cutting down on his chase rate significantly from seasons prior and showing a more mature eye in the batter’s box. With the Red Sox in 2025, Devers posted a career-best 152 OPS+ to go with 15 homers and 58 RBI.
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When Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon in his knee on a freak play trying to beat out an infield chopper in early May, ending his season, Boston’s brass asked Devers if he’d be willing to slot in at first base.
Devers said he was unwilling to do so.
Nov 7, 2023; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Boston Red Six chief baseball officer Craig Breslow speaks to the media during the MLB General Manager’s Meetings at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The rift that created between Devers and Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow was apparently too much to overcome, as the organization that infamously traded away Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts again sent a star player packing.
Devers was unequivocally the best hitter in Boston’s lineup, and now he’ll provide that offensive spark on the west coast for a Giants team right in the hunt for an NL West division title with the Dodgers.
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Here’s the full Giants lineup, according to MLB.com:
The Guardians will have to face Devers’ imposing bat first for a three-game set, but then Boston flies to San Francisco to face off against its former star starting Friday, June 20.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: After blockbuster trade, when will Rafael Devers make Giants debut?
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