Former Red Sox Star Rafael Devers Turns Corner With Monster Game

Rafael Devers has yet to find himself on the San Francisco Giants, but the former Boston Red Sox slugger may have taken a massive step toward a late-season resurgence.

Devers enjoyed his best hitting performance since June’s shocking trade, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double and a walk on Wednesday night. The 28-year-old drove in five runs during San Francisco’s 12-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.

While that type of power barrage is a familiar sight to Red Sox fans, Devers is now batting a tame .240/.347/.449 in 61 games with the Giants. The two-time Silver Slugger already has more strikeouts (77) than he tallied in 69 more plate appearances with Boston this season.

Wednesday marked Devers’ second multi-homer game with the Giants but first at Oracle Park. He’s batting .229 with a .778 OPS at his new home after hitting .296/.420/.556 at Fenway Park this season.

Devers nevertheless insisted after the game, per KNBR, that the pitcher-friendly venue isn’t responsible for his subpar results in San Francisco.

“I have never said that I never felt comfortable here at Oracle Park,” Devers said through a translator. “I just know the kind of player I am. I give my 100 percent and move forward.”

A locked-in Devers made thunderous contact on Wednesday, hitting both home runs and his double at an exit velocity over 105.0 mph. Statcast determined that the 107.3-mph, 387-foot double would have cleared the fences in Fenway and nine other MLB stadiums.

Boston has climbed the standings since trading Devers, but the 65-68 Giants need a massive September to make the playoffs. While the Red Sox may not regret the bold decision to trade a lineup cornerstone, it could be only a matter of time before Devers catches fire.

“This is the guy that everybody’s accustomed to seeing,” Giants third baseman Matt Chapman said of Devers, per MLB.com’s Andrés Soto. “It’s not easy to get traded and come in, and instantly be yourself. He’s getting more settled in, and you see him get more comfortable every day that he’s here. … When he feels good, he’s that dangerous.”