Rafael Devers praised by teammate Mike Yastrzemski has sparked renewed admiration from Boston Red Sox fans following Devers’s trade to the San Francisco Giants. Yastrzemski, formerly a Giant and grandson of Boston Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, spoke this week on Foul Territory about his brief time sharing a clubhouse with Devers after the Giants acquired him on June 15.
Although Yastrzemski was traded to the Kansas City Royals on July 31, he spent six weeks alongside Devers and offered strong commendations for the infielder, emphasizing his commitment and character.
Devers’s Dedication and Team Spirit Highlighted
Yastrzemski called Devers “the best” and praised his willingness to take on any role for the team’s benefit. He acknowledged the complexity of Devers’s departure from Boston, suggesting that the player was put in a challenging situation and responded by standing up for himself.
“Awesome teammate, willing to do whatever he had to. I think he just got thrown into a weird circumstance (in Boston) and, you know, I think sometimes as players, you have to stick up for yourself. And I think that’s what he tried to do.”
—Mike Yastrzemski, Former Teammate
Yastrzemski also defended Devers against criticism, noting that despite misunderstandings around his exit, Devers remained a hardworking teammate who genuinely cares about winning and supporting others.
“And I think the wording of it was delivered poorly because he’s an awesome teammate,”
Yastrzemski said.
“He works his tail off, he tries to help everybody. … He’s really smart, and he cares about winning so much, so I don’t understand where all the heat came from.”
—Mike Yastrzemski, Former Teammate
Devers’s Impact in Preparing His Team
Beyond his playing, Devers contributed strategically by offering detailed scouting reports to teammates, helping them anticipate opposing pitchers’ tendencies. Yastrzemski noted this aspect as part of Devers’s team-first approach.
“If you’re facing a guy that he’s faced, and you haven’t faced him … (he provides a) full scouting report, where you want to look for the ball, what pitch you want to hit, how he’s gonna pitch you.”
—Mike Yastrzemski, Former Teammate
Performance Overview and Team Developments Post-Trade
As of early August, Devers had produced a .231 batting average with a .348 on-base percentage and .422 slugging percentage, totaling eight home runs and 23 RBIs in 47 games with San Francisco. Before the trade, his career slash line with Boston was an impressive .279/.349/.510, with five finishes among the top 20 in American League MVP voting, including the last four consecutive seasons.
Meanwhile, since trading Devers, the Red Sox have maintained a solid 28-19 record. On July 31, Boston made additional moves involving prospects connected to the Devers trade by sending James Tibbs III and outfielder Zach Ehrhard to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for veteran starting pitcher Dustin May.
The Broader Implications for Boston and Devers’s Legacy
Yastrzemski’s reflections highlight Devers’s reputation as a dedicated and selfless player, qualities that made him essential to Boston’s lineup and clubhouse. As the Giants continue to integrate Devers into their roster, his work ethic and leadership remain evident.
The trade’s ripple effects are also noticeable, with Boston acquiring pitching help while the Giants benefit from Devers’s offensive and clubhouse presence. Fans and analysts will watch closely how this change influences both teams moving forward in the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB season.