Rafael Devers
Rafael Devers was only 16 years old when he signed out of the Dominican Republic for a $1.5 million bonus in 2013. That seems strange considering the baby-face third baseman still looks like a 16-year old kid out there having fun on the field but in reality, Devers has developed into a 23-year old star.
Devers was one of the top prospects in the Red Sox farm system and among the top dozen position players in baseball by 2016. He flashed his potential in an abbreviated rookie season, hitting .284 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 58 games. It was enough service time to exceed his rookie limits but not enough of an opportunity to factor in the Rookie of the Year race.
His first full season was a bit of a roller coaster for Devers. His home run and RBI totals more than doubled, along with his playing time, but he hit a meager .240 and his glove was a disaster in the field.
Devers showed progress as the season went along and he was great in the postseason as the Red Sox captured another World Series title in 2018. His emergence set the stage for a career year last season.
In 2019, Devers hit .311 with a .916 OPS, 32 home runs and 115 RBI. He led the majors with 54 doubles and became the youngest players in franchise history with a 200-hit season.
One productive season isn’t enough to launch Devers to the top of the list but he’s far from his peak and will only get better. He has the potential to be the best international signing in franchise history but he’s not there yet.