With the extreme lack of production at the third base position, there is an outside shot that Devers gets the call up this year. But, looking at what the front office has done with his development, it is unlikely. Devers has spent essentially a full season at every level. When the calendar turns to September, and the rosters expand to 40 men, that is when Devers should make his MLB debut.
The current problem Devers is facing is being blocked by a $95 million contract. Pablo Sandoval is locked up until after the 2019 season. Even if Rafael Devers gets called up in September, expect him to start the 2018 season in Pawtucket. Unless Dave Dombrowski can swindle a team to pay Panda almost $20 million a year, 2019 seems like the first full season Devers will be in the majors.
While the farm system is not the “prospect machine” it once was, both Groome and Devers look to be very good MLB players in the future. Clearly Dombrowski valued these two players highly, due to his lack of dealing them in the offseason. And with a young core of players, it does not seem that a major trade involving either of them is on the horizon.