As the Red Sox' run in 2021 started unfolding throughout April and May, some pushed the narrative that this was a team solely built and grit and guile, devoid of players classified as the best of the best.
Wrong.
Rafael Devers is a downright superstar. (Oh, and there are also a couple of guys named Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez.)
This reality was put on display once again in the Red Sox' 6-2 win over the Yankees Friday night, with Devers blasting the 99th and 100th home runs of his young career.
“He’s one of the best third basemen in the big leagues and he’s only 24,” manager Alex Cora told reporters after his team pushed its lead over the Yankees to nine games. “And he’s still working hard to get better, not only offensively, but defensively.”
AN ABSOLUTE ROCKET INTO THE BOSTON NIGHT pic.twitter.com/CMVo90ERBm
— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) July 24, 2021
Devers becomes just the third Red Sox player ever to hit 100 home runs before turning 25 years old, joining Ted Williams and Tony Conigliaro. (The Sox third baseman turns 25 on Oct. 24.) Also, the only other Dominican-born players to hit 100 homers before 25 are Albert Pujols, Cesar Cedeno and Adrian Beltré.
And as for where he stands among his peers after the latest run of homers ...
Devers sits tied for the major league lead in RBI, while carrying the second-most extra-base hits. And he also made sure there is nothing subtle about marking his presence, with his first homer of the night offering the latest example.
With Yankees ace Gerrit Cole on the mound, Devers turned around 100.1 mph fastball for his 25th home run of the season. Since the Statcast era (2015), the lefty hitter has more homers off pitches of 99 mph or better (4) than any player in the big leagues.
There were other storylines that went along with the Red Sox' fourth straight win, such as the Red Sox' relievers pitching eight scoreless innings after Eduardo Rodriguez was forced from the game with a migraine.
But this game was a perfect opportunity to stop and appreciate a big chunk of the foundation the 60-38 Red Sox are built on -- their superstar, Rafael Devers, perhaps the best offensive third baseman in big-league baseball.
Give Devers A Contract Extension pic.twitter.com/H6pUqyfMru
— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) July 24, 2021
