David Ortiz wants Rafael Devers to reconsider his stance on playing first base
"He should just think about what would be better for the organization ... and go from there."
David Ortiz offered some advice for Rafael Devers on Monday.
The Red Sox legend wants Devers to consider playing first base. Devers has hit his stride as a designated hitter. His 52 RBI are tied for the league lead, he has 12 home runs, and he’s hitting .286 with a 408 on-base percentage and a .515. slugging percentage.
But, with Triston Casas injured, the Red Sox have gone with a mix of Nick Sogard, Romy Gonzalez, and Abraham Toro at the position. They have also considered moving rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell to fill the gap at first.
Ortiz said he’s enjoying seeing Devers “smoking” opposing pitchers, but he would volunteer to play first if he was in Devers’s shoes.
“So, he had a rough start the first couple of weeks but then he’s killing it right now,” Ortiz told reporters Monday, per WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “You don’t want to mess that up. Casas went down. If I was him, I would put myself available for anything. But, that was me.”
Devers was already reluctant to switch from third base to DH in the spring. While the Red Sox have a defensive need at first, he has been doing what the Red Sox expected of him offensively, Ortiz said.
“He was a third baseman that was asked to be a DH, now all of a sudden you want him to play first base,” Ortiz said. “I guess you have to give him some time to learn if you want to because he’s been doing great at DH.”
“I don’t want to mess that up. You’re leading the league in RBI, you’ve got your thing going on as a batter, that’s a good thing so we cannot just crush the guy every time we feel like it.”
“He needs to know that he’s an important piece for this organization. He’s doing what he was asked. But yeah, I think he should just think about what would be better for the organization, him at first or him as the DH, and go from there. But we have to give him some time.”
Devers expressed some concerns last month about the Red Sox not sticking to their word about where he’ll play defensively. He reportedly said he doesn’t think learning a new position a couple of months after switching to DH is the best idea.
Ortiz believes Devers’ comments may have been taken the wrong way.
“All the back and forth conversation, they’re kind of misunderstanding things when someone is translating for him and this and that, you know?” Ortiz said. “Devers is doing great as we asked him to do. Moving from third base, I thought he was going to have a hard time as the DH because when you’re not hitting it’s like you’re not doing anything.”
Ortiz switched from first base to designated hitter when he was with the Red Sox, and was able to carve out a role that ended with his induction to baseball’s Hall of Fame.
It may take time for Devers to go from DH to first, but he should at least think about it with his team in need, Ortiz said.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com