Rafael Devers' tenure with the San Francisco Giants has hardly gone well, evidenced by his severe regression at the plate. But the relationship between Devers and his new team hit a new low on June 21, when he in the ninth inning of a one-run game tried to wave off a pinch runner sent by new skipper Tony Vitello.
Devers is hardly speedy and he's fresh off a hamstring injury, making a substitution for a pinch-runner an exceedingly obvious move at the time. Vitello reacted quite calmly to Devers' opposition to his decisions, saying he'd rather have players who do everything to stay on the field rather than come off easily.
Devers' reaction wasn't so kind. On June 23, he spoke to Giants media to explain his side of the story in the way Boston Red Sox fans knew he would.
"The media, in general, you guys just blow everything out of proportion, and I think that's a reflection of why I really don't talk to you guys," Devers said.
"You guys just blow everything out of proportion, and I think that's a reflection of why I really don't talk to you guys."
— KNBR (@KNBR) June 23, 2026
After explaining his side of Sunday's saga, Rafael Devers expanded on why he isn't a big fan of media. pic.twitter.com/QefO1VXsfR
The third baseman-turned-designated hitter also explained that he assumed Vitello pulled him from the game because of his recently-hurt hamstring. He noted that he apologized to Vitello, who also said that he and Devers had a productive conversation on a long flight from Miami to NorCal. While Devers' reasoning for the confrontation could be true, he dodged his teammates in the dugout after the incident, possibly suggesting that more than just a miscommunication came into play.
Despite being the clear star of the team, Devers was infamously unavailable to Boston media, a trend which has continued into San Francisco. He addressed his tiff with Vitello in a rare media availability, a step forward for Devers in its own way.
Rafael Devers explains Tony Vitello-pinch-runner drama in a way Red Sox fans remember well
But he needs to know, even healthy, that he isn't the ideal baserunner in the situation the Giants were in. It's not reporters' fault that Devers can't see reason in that moment, nor is in their fault that he reacted so publicly — the incident was certain to become a story.
The Giants have already expressed interest in trying to move Devers' huge contract, on which there is still over seven years of service time. His staggering regression at the plate (.238/.301/.430 slash line over 78 games) as well as his latest tiff with a manager may render him untradeable.
Devers has never been totally comfortable talking to media or being a front-facing member of the Red Sox, but Sox fans have witnessed his transformation from one of the happiest guys at the park to the player he's become now. It's a shame to see Devers so lost when he was once a star in the league, but snapping at one's manager and reporters is hardly a way to gain more fans or to stay in the good graces of any club.
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