Rafael Devers will endure an MRI on his bothersome proper shoulder at this time, Purple Sox supervisor Alex Cora informed reporters (together with The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey) after yesterday’s 4-2 loss to the Twins in further innings. Devers was faraway from the sport previous to the beginning of the eleventh, and Cora mentioned that the slugger had been attempting to powerful it out Friday regardless of tweaking his shoulder throughout pregame batting observe.
Whereas Cora mentioned “we’ll see the place we’re at” following the MRI, “most likely, that is it for [Devers]” this season. With simply eight video games remaining and the Purple Sox all however formally eradicated from the playoff race, the membership is more likely to play it protected with the star third baseman.
Devers has been coping with discomfort in each shoulders for a very good chunk of the season, and it’s honest to surprise if his willpower to maintain enjoying has contributed to his extreme stoop. The third baseman had an excellent .296/.375/.587 slash line by his first 488 plate appearances, however has solely a .172/.265/.212 slash line over his final 113 journeys to the dish. Amongst all certified batters since August 19, Devers’ 34 wRC+ is the third-worst within the league.
The Purple Sox as a complete have a crew wRC+ of 74 since August 19, forward of solely the lowly White Sox in that timespan. Boston had a 67-60 document as not too long ago as August 22, however a 9-18 document over the membership’s final 27 video games has sunk the Fenway 9’s probabilities of a return to the postseason. Regardless that Devers’ stoop dovetails fairly immediately with Boston’s offensive slide, he’s removed from the one Purple Sox hitter who hit a chilly streak at precisely the fallacious time.
Assuming that is certainly it for Devers’ 2024 season, he’ll nonetheless end with a sometimes sturdy set of numbers — 28 homers and a .272/.354/.516 slash over 601 PA, with a 133 wRC+ and his third All-Star nod. Although a veteran of eight MLB seasons, Devers nonetheless doesn’t flip 28 till the tip of October, and 2024 marked the primary season of the ten-year, $313.5MM contract extension he signed with the Purple Sox throughout the 2022-23 offseason. Since Devers is such a key part of Boston’s current and future plans, it’s a sensible transfer to determine as early as attainable if Devers’ shoulder would possibly require any type of surgical procedure heading into 2025.
