The Boston Red Sox's Opening Day roster is taking shape as players play for their jobs in Grapefruit League games, but a few notable faces are missing due to injuries. Rafael Devers is the highest profile among them.
Devers is still healing shoulder injuries he's been combating since spring training last year. Red Sox fans still haven't seen him play in a game since Sept. 20 of the 2024 season, and his Grapefruit League debut has been delayed at least twice. Devers is now slated to debut on March 15, just 13 days before Opening Day.
Despite the many delays in Devers' spring training appearances, Red Sox manager Alex Cora doesn't sound worried about his infielder's progress. He shared the latest on Devers' recovery with Sean McAdam of MassLive on March 11.
"He’s been on point as far as what he needs, as far as the swing. The whole path on the inside pitch is something that he lost last year, because of the shoulders. He’s been working very hard on that path," Cora said. "It’s not a different swing; it’s just a different path, to be honest with you. It’s been trending in the right direction. He’s been off a little bit."
Alex Cora explains Rafael Devers' delayed Red Sox spring training debut
Alex Cora announces Rafael Devers won't start until Saturday. pic.twitter.com/vYfuZ9G6VE
— NESN (@NESN) March 11, 2025
One of Devers' first expected debut dates was delayed because his timing was off in the batter's box. He struck out more last season (147) than he did in 2023 (126) despite playing 15 fewer games, so fine-tuning his eye and bat path will indeed be critical to his success this coming season.
Cora also said that Devers hadn't swung a bat all winter because he hoped to rest his shoulders as much as possible. The first time he swung since his 2024 season ended was after he arrived in Fort Myers for spring training.
Devers has played backfield games and taken live batting practice off Sox pitchers, which he prefers to playing in spring training games. Teams use multiple pitchers — more than usual to give as many players reps as possible — in Grapefruit League games, and Cora and Devers feel the third baseman is facing better pitching at Sox camp than he would be in spring training games against other clubs' minor league arms.
Still, Devers should see some game action before the Red Sox open their season in Arlington, Texas, on March 27. He remains in a position battle for third base with offseason acquisition Alex Bregan, but he hasn't appeared there in a game yet this spring.
Devers' injuries don't seem to be the main factor keeping him out of Grapefruit League action, which should reassure Sox fans. His push to be Boston's third baseman should really begin soon after his extended recovery.