SEATTLE -- Rafael Devers made quite an impression in spring training, and because of the Grapefruit League showing he has earned himself a spot in the middle of the Red Sox' Opening Day lineup.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed prior to his team's workout at T-Mobile Park Wednesday that Devers would be hitting third against Seattle starter Marco Gonzales.
The move was made in part because of a spring training in which Devers finished hitting .395 with a .954 OPS. It was necessitated because of the absence of Steve Pearce, who is starting the season on the injured list (calf).
"I challenged him and he did a good job," Cora said of Devers. "He doesn't know he's hitting third yet but I'll stop by and tell him. He did a good job. He hung in there with lefties. He creates balance. Maybe with Pearcy being hurt it's a little bit different. When Steve is healthy he'll hit third against lefties and we'll decide what we'll do with the rest of the lineup. Steve is not here, he did a good job, so go get them kid."
Also of note in the first lineup of the Red Sox' regular season is Christian Vazquez getting the call behind the plate, teaming up with starter Chris Sale, while Eduardo Nunez starts at second base. Even with the lefty Gonzales on the mound Mitch Moreland will be the Sox' first baseman, hitting seventh.
Here is how the Red Sox' Opening Day batting order will look:
Andrew Benintendi LF
Mookie Betts RF
Rafael Devers 3B
J.D. Martinez DH
Xander Bogaerts SS
Mitch Moreland 1B
Eduardo Nunez 2B
Jackie Bradley Jr. CF
Christian Vazquez C
