Rafael Devers is in the throes of the best offensive stretch of his career. He's hit 10 of his 21 home runs in his latest 30 games. His defense has improved. He's walked at a higher clip than usual.
The face of the Boston Red Sox franchise is slugging home runs at a faster pace than ever before. But when ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball broadcasters approached Devers to ask if he'd be participating in the Home Run Derby, they said he "ran away" from them.
Devers was named to his third All-Star game hours before the Sox's game against the Yankees on July 7, but the slugger will skip the event to rest the sore shoulder he's been battling since spring training. Weeks before this year's Home Run Derby participants were announced, Devers told Chris Cotillo of MassLive that the Derby has never been on his radar. He also said he wasn't asked to participate.
But Devers would be an incredible Home Run Derby contestant. He's one of the best — if not the best — bad ball hitters in the league and he could give almost any pitch a ride out of the park. The second long ball of his two-homer night at Yankee Stadium on July 7 proves it.
Red Sox Rafael Devers was not asked to participate in the Home Run Derby — and he doesn't want to
Rafael Devers, you are unreal. pic.twitter.com/q94qgukCol
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 8, 2024
The slugging third baseman was invited to participate in the Home Run Derby during the 2021 season, but he declined. Red Sox skipper Alex Cora later elaborated on his decision on WEEI’s "Ordway, Merloni and Fauria" show.
"He feels like he’s not a home run hitter in B.P. Great answer by him, I guess,” Cora said. ". . . I wanted Raffy to do it. I think he was going to be O.K."
Red Sox Nation likely agrees with Cora's assessment of Devers. The third baseman has never been fond of the spotlight, though, and his reluctance to participate in the Derby makes sense given his reputation.
Devers would be a standout Home Run Derby contestant and deserved an invitation this year, but it doesn't seem like his stance on the event will change — Boston hasn't had a Derby contestant since 2011, and the drought will go at least another year longer. But maybe Red Sox Nation will get lucky enough to see Devers compete in the future.