Red Sox infielders Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers make history
Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers made history by joining teammate Xander Bogaerts in the 30 home run, 50 double club.
The left side of the Boston Red Sox infield is arguably the best in baseball. In fact, it’s historically great.
Rafael Devers blasted his 30th home run of season to break up Jeff Samardzija‘s no-hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning of Wednesday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants.
Last week, Devers became the youngest Red Sox player in history to collect 50+ doubles in a season. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts would soon tie him for the league-lead with his 50th double, making the infielders the first pair of teammates in franchise history with 50+ doubles in the same season.
Bogaerts recently became only the second shortstop in MLB history with 30+ home runs and 50+ doubles in the same season. David Ortiz (2007) was the only other Red Sox hitter to reach those milestones.
Now Bogaerts and Devers have both done it, making them the first pair of teammates in MLB history with 30+ homers and 50+ doubles in the same season.
Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers are the first teammates in MLB history with 30+ HR and 50+ doubles each in the same season.
— J.P. Long (@SoxNotes) September 19, 2019
Devers is the 25th player in MLB history with a 30-homer/50-double season. Houston’s Alex Bregman (2018) is the only other third baseman to do it.
Devers has also tied the franchise single-season record for home runs by a third baseman. Butch Hobson had 30 for the Red Sox in 1977.
Bogaerts and Devers are two of only eight players in the majors with 100+ RBI and 100+ runs scored this season.
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The youth of Devers makes the milestone even more impressive. He’s only the 11th player in major league history with a 30+ homer, 100+ RBI and 100+ runs scored season before the age of 23.
J.D. Martinez leads the Red Sox with 35 homers. This marks only the third time in franchise history that the club has had a trio of 30-home run hitters in the same season. Martinez is on the verge of reaching triple digits in RBI (97) and runs scored (93), although he’s currently dealing with groin tightness that threatens to keep him out of the lineup. With only 33 doubles, it’s safe to say Martinez won’t be joining his teammates in the 30/50 club.
Mookie Betts has an outside shot of leaping the velvet rope into that VIP section. He’s sitting on 28 homers and 40 doubles. Foot soreness will cause him to miss the current series against the Giants and it’s unclear if he’ll be back when the team goes to Tampa Bay.
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The Red Sox are going to miss the playoffs but there’s been no shortage of excitement with this team. If you don’t enjoy watching the young talent on this club emerge as superstars, I don’t know what to tell you. Red Sox fans will hopefully be treated to watching Bogaerts and Devers put up eye-popping numbers for years to come.