Let's get this out of the way: We are not about to say that Rafael Devers is as good of a baseball player as Mike Trout. There will be no such takes in this story.
However, at this point, it's not crazy to suggest that Devers could become as good of a hitter as Trout, and the numbers would back up that claim.
Boston Sports Info on Tuesday shared a tweet comparing the two players' extra-base hit totals over their first 1,861 at-bats as major leaguers. The results might surprise you.
Take a look:
If you're thinking, "There must be a catch," you are right. Trout reached 1,861 at-bats in his age-22 season, which was his fourth in the big leagues. The 24-year-old Devers, on the other hand, hit that mark Monday night and is in his fifth season.
Regardless, there's no denying Devers's immense talent, which he'll put on display next Tuesday in the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Devers this season is hitting .290 with 21 homers and 71 RBIs in 82 games while playing above-average defense at third base. Trout, limited to just 36 games due to injuries, is hitting .333 with eight homers and 18 RBIs.
