Rafael Devers is in the middle of the best stretch of his Boston Red Sox career. The third baseman is slugging home runs at a faster pace than ever, taking more walks, and playing better defense.
He's been doing it all with a sore shoulder.
Devers missed many games at the beginning of the season to try and heal shoulder soreness he's been dealing with since spring training. He said he feels it when he swings, but fans wouldn't know it — he posted a two-homer night against the Yankees on July 7, and one of his blasts went a whopping 447 feet.
Devers recently shared that his shoulder is still bothering him, so much that he's skipping the All-Star game to rest it.
Red Sox Rafael Devers to skip All-Star Game to rest nagging shoulder injury
The Red Sox informed MLB that Rafael Devers isn't going to the All Star Game so he can rest his nagging left shoulder.
— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) July 9, 2024
The slugger was recently named to his third All-Star Game as one of Boston's three representatives, but the list has shrunk to two. Jarren Duran and Tanner Houck are still all in on the festivities.
It's concerning that Devers' shoulder is still nagging him, though. He never officially went on the injured list for his shoulder or knee ailments and last missed time in April. Devers has been playing so well that many fans expected the shoulder injury was behind him.
It's disappointing that Red Sox Nation won't get to see Devers rake at Globe Life Field next week, but if the extra rest means he can stay hot for the rest of the season, he's absolutely right to take it. His bat has been integral to Boston's June and July success, and he shouldn't risk injury for a game that doesn't matter on the scoreboard.
The Red Sox and Devers are clearly taking his injury seriously. Boston's months of silence on the ailment doesn't exactly have fans feeling comfortable, but Devers has been so consistent it would be hard to argue with his manager's approach.
Four days of rest will do Devers good, and hopefully he will continue slugging at his current pace after the All-Star Break. If the Red Sox are going to make a push for the playoffs, Devers needs to be a part of it. But this is also a concern for beyond 2024, because the Sox need Devers to remain healthy and at his absolute best if this team wants to see through its current re-tool. We'll keep monitoring it the rest of the season, but at least he has some rest on the horizon and he's been able to defeat the pain/soreness.