Rafael Devers has only known one position. And, as it turns out, Rafael Devers only wants to know one position.
"Of course. That’s the position I have played my whole career so I hope to play third base my whole career," Devers told WEEI.com through translator Carlos Vllloria-Benitez when asked if he hoped to stay at third his entire career. He then added, "I’m ready. God-willing, if I stay healthy everything will work out this year."
When it comes to the conversation circling around Devers, and how he should be valued heading into a fifth full big league season, it's all about his defense.
The 25-year-old has proven to be one of the most feared offensive threats in baseball, coming off a 38-home run season in which he totaled the fifth-most total bases in baseball.
But before Devers' case can be firmly made that he is a Top 10 player in MLB, the questions about his glove have to be answered. There hasn't been a season since he became a full-time major-leaguer that Devers hasn't led all big league third basemen in errors.
There are signs, however, that Devers might be getting his wish by pushing aside the positional-switch conversations.
Prior to the Red Sox' final spring training game, Red Sox manager was waxing poetic about Devers' work to that point.
"I think we have been through this path, I always felt like he was going to be a good defender," Cora said. "You see the numbers under the hood that we have. Out conversion is the one that was always red, but besides that, the range, the first step and the arm, they’re green. I do believe he has been able to slow down the game. The game used to get fast on him. I don’t want him to make an error, but I want to see how he reacts to making an error. Let’s see if he makes an error how he’s going to bounce back because he’s always something … He hates making errors. We all hate making errors. He knows he can be a good defensive third baseman and when he makes an error he takes two or three days thinking about it. Hopefully, he doesn’t make an error the whole season, but when he does let’s see how he bounces back. I do believe the work that he put in the offseason, the work he put in (spring training) and how serious he is about it, he’s in a good spot. I’m looking forward to get that one down and hopefully, people recognize him as one of the best third basemen in the big leagues."
Then, after punctuating his error-less Grapefruit League season with an outstanding grab of a liner down the line, Devers' existence heading into the 2022 regular season was punctuated by some postgame thoughts from Cora.
"I’ve been saying all along, his work habits ... He is locked in. He took spring training like it was the regular season," the manager noted. "Running the bases. Everything he did. It was very professional. He’s been growing up. He’s one of the leaders on the team and he’s only 25."
It wasn't hard to find examples of the work put in by Devers throughout the last few months. Each morning, at just about 8 a.m., the third baseman could be found taking grounders on a stretch of artificial turf courtesy a make-shift pitching machine being fed by Red Sox third base coach Carlos Febles.
The pregame intent clearly translated to a different image on the field. Devers not only cleared spring training without making a single error, but he also executed more than a few above-average opportunities. (He made four errors throughout the 2021 Grapefruit League season.)
Has Devers' turned a defensive corner? That remains to be seen. But the last month was certainly a step in the right direction.
"I feel really good," Devers said. "I worked really hard in the offseason and with all the hard work I feel very confident. And with all the experience I have gotten throughout the years I feel very confident."
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