Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers on MLB Network

Boston Red Sox rookie phenom Rafael Devers spent his day in the Big Apple at the MLB Network speaking with analyst Harold Reynolds.

There are a lot of ways a Boston Red Sox  player could spend his well deserved off day in NYC. He could take a trip to some of the most famous tourist sites in the country. There’s a chance to see some of the best theatre in the world. Or there’s the option to just relax somewhere and gear up for that next game.

Red Sox rookie phenom Rafael Devers chose a different path. He spent his day in the Big Apple with Harold Reynolds at the MLB Network.

It’s a long video, but it’s worth the watch if only to see Devers clobber some soft toss near the end.

You can watch the interview here:

Mostly through his agent/translator Nelson, Devers and Reynolds talk about what it was like growing up in the Dominican Republic. Devers discusses getting into baseball when he was around five years old. Having a father who played Dominican League ball was definitely a motivator for the young lefty.

He mentions his father a few times in the interview; he says his dad was the first person he called when he found out we was being promoted. Devers believes his father was more excited about the call up than he was.

More from Red Sox News

• 4 Free-agent DH options Red Sox should consider to replace JD Martinez
• Chaim Bloom hits back at rival execs’ criticism of Masataka Yoshida contract
• Red Sox cut bait with key Mookie Betts trade piece in latest roster move
• MLB insider hints Red Sox teardown may continue with two trades
• Division rival targeting Red Sox 2022 standout Michael Wacha

Red Sox fans will also be pleased to hear the young rookie discuss growing up watching the team. He really seems to be living the dream here. The Red Sox have a rich history full of excellent players from the Dominican Republic.

I can only imagine the growing up watching guys like David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez, and years later getting to play for the same team.

Baseball is practically a religion in the Dominican and you can see the love in Devers’ eyes when talking about playing in Boston for the first time.

Reynolds throws out some big league names during the interview, comparing Devers to other great Dominican players, Adrian Beltre and Robinson Cano. Side by side with Cano, I just don’t see it. Cano has a great swing, don’t get me wrong here, but Devers just looks so much more fluid.

In the interview, Devers talks about how he’s made a conscious effort to open up his stance, and man it just looks so easy for him.

Maybe it’s because Cano is 14 years old than Devers, but I would take Devers over Cano 10 times out of 10.  I’m a sucker for a good southpaw swing, and I am so excited to watch this kid at 3rd base for the next 15 years or so.

It’s a great one for sure. This kid was basically built to play in Fenway. Mark my words, Devers will put more than a few dents in the wall before he’s done. Too bad it’s not the prettiest lefty swing on the team, but it’s a very close second.

Next: Red Sox: Are they better at home than on the road?

Rafael Devers is slashing a ridiculous .319/.396/.553 with 3 HR and 7 RBIs in his first 12 games. It’s a small sample size to be sure, but don’t be surprised if you see him batting cleanup before the season’s over.