Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers ignited a six‑game winning streak on Tuesday, May 27, after smashing a go‑ahead three‑run homer against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. The 28‑year‑old posted his 12th home run of the season, pushing his May totals to a career‑best .312 batting average, 10 doubles and 23 RBIs.
Devers’s surge comes as the Sox sit a half‑game behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East lead, and his production has coincided with a noticeable uptick in the club’s offensive output. Boston has averaged 5.4 runs per game over the past week, up from 4.1 earlier in the month.
Recent History with Devers
Since debuting in 2017, Devers has been a staple of Boston’s middle of the order, earning three All‑Star nods and a Silver Slugger in 2022. After a down‑the‑stretch slump in 2025, he rebounded in spring training, posting a .340 OBP and a 1.08 wRC+ in March. That early flash set the tone for a season in which he now ranks second in the league in OPS+. His consistency has helped Boston stay competitive despite injuries to key outfielders.
What Do the Numbers Say About Devers?
The numbers reveal a pattern of elite contact and power. In May, Devers is slugging .587, with a hard‑hit rate of 55% measured by exit velocity over 95 mph. His barrel percentage sits at 12%, well above the league average of 5%. Advanced metrics show a 0.45 WAR contribution for the month, underscoring his value beyond the box score.
Breaking down his plate appearances, Devers has a .380 OBP against right‑handed pitchers, while lefties see a .295 average. This split has prompted manager Alex Cora to platoon him in high‑leverage situations, a move that has paid dividends in the Sox’s recent close games.
Key Developments
- Devers reached 30 career multi‑home‑run games, the most by any Red Sox player since David Ortiz.
- His May slugging percentage (.587) tops the AL and is the highest for a Red Sox third baseman since Manny Ramirez in 2004.
- Boston’s run production on Devers’s RBI hits has risen 22% compared with the first two months of the season.
- Devers signed a three‑year extension worth $70 million in December 2023, locking him in through the 2029 season.
- He became the first Red Sox player since 2016 to record five extra‑base hits in a single game, achieving the feat on May 22 against the Blue Jays.
Future Impact and What’s Next
Looking ahead, Devers’s hot hand could be the catalyst Boston needs to clinch the division before the September trade deadline. The front office brass is reportedly eyeing a mid‑season trade for a left‑handed reliever to bolster a bullpen that has posted a 4.25 ERA this month. If Devers maintains his current pace, he is on track to finish the season with 35+ home runs and a sub‑.270 batting average, positioning him as a serious MVP contender.
Meanwhile, the Sox’s scouting department is monitoring the upcoming June 5 trade deadline for opportunities to add depth at shortstop, a move that would allow Devers to stay in the lineup full‑time without the need for late‑inning defensive shifts. The numbers suggest that keeping Devers healthy and in the regular batting order will be the difference between a playoff berth and a mid‑season rebuild.
How many career home runs does Rafael Devers have?
As of the end of the 2025 season, Devers had 172 career homers, placing him third on the Red Sox modern‑era list behind David Ortiz and Jim Rice.
What is Rafael Devers’s contract status for the 2026 season?
Devers is under a three‑year, $70 million extension that began in 2024, guaranteeing him $23 million annually through the 2029 season.
How does Devers’s May performance compare to his 2022 MVP season?
In May 2022, Devers hit .311 with 8 home runs and a .950 OPS, while his 2026 May line (.312, 12 homers, .995 OPS) exceeds those numbers, indicating a higher offensive ceiling this year.
