Rafael Devers tried to wave off a pinch runner over the weekend but the Giants first baseman lost the fight.
The former Red Sox third baseman, who originally played for the team’s Double-A affiliate in Portland, proved once again to be a drama queen.
When San Francisco manager Tony Vitello tried to substitute Jonah Cox to run for Devers from first after he walked Sunday, Devers tried to wave him off.
At that point the first-base ump stepped into the disagreement and ordered Devers off the field.
Despite his established power at the plate, Devers is a terrible base runner, 22nd percentile sprint speed ranking in the bottom half of the league.
Vitello ordered a pinch runner in the ninth when San Francisco was trailing Miami by one run.
Devers didn’t want to be removed for a pinch runner after a leadoff walk to start the last inning.
The substitution was all for naught, as the Giants ended by losing anyway.
After signing in 2014 with the Sox Devers started in the minors.
In 2017 he was assigned to the team’s Maine minor-league affiliate in Portland.
He made his MLB debut later that season after a brief stint with the Sox’s Triple-A team in Pawtucket.
Devers was a member of the Sox’s 2018 World Series championship team.
He is a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner and a three-time All-Star.
Before the 2023 season, the Red Sox signed Devers to an eleven-year, $330 million contract extension; however, after only one full season of the contract being in force, he was traded to the Giants a year ago.
Devers had started off last season 0-for-21 with 15 strikeouts, the most in MLB history for a player in their first five games.
In May 2025, after a season-ending injury to starting first basemen Triston Casas, Devers refused the team’s request for him to play first base.
He said he would not accept a move from third base to accommodate Alex Bregman, who had just been signed to a three-year, $120 million contract.
The Devers drama resumed Sunday in true style when he protested the pinch runner.
