If you’ve spent any time watching Red Sox post-game scrums or scrolling through Fenway highlight reels, you’ve seen the routine. Rafael Devers stands there, usually with a slight grin or a look of intense focus, while an interpreter stands by his side. A reporter asks a question in English. Devers listens. Then, he responds in Spanish. The interpreter brings it back to English.
It leads to the same question every single season: Does Rafael Devers speak English?
The short answer? Yeah. He does. Honestly, he’s much better at it than he lets on during those formal press conferences. But the "why" behind his use of an interpreter is where things get interesting. It’s not about a lack of knowledge; it’s about the terrifying reality of being the face of a historic franchise in a city that doesn't exactly go easy on its stars.
The Secret Language of the Clubhouse
Inside the walls of the Red Sox clubhouse—or even the San Francisco Giants' locker room during that brief, wild trade speculation era—the vibe is totally different. You’ve probably seen the "mic’d up" segments. Raffy is out there chirping with teammates, laughing, and throwing around English slang like it’s nothing.
Back in 2022, we got a real glimpse of this. ESPN’s Eduardo Pérez sat down with him and basically coaxed him into a rapid-fire round of descriptions for his teammates. It was all in English. He called Xander Bogaerts "Captain." He called Nathan Eovaldi a "Good person." He even managed a full sentence about Kiké Hernández being the best utility guy in the league.
When Pérez told him, "You know English," Devers shot back with a smirk, "No, I don't speak English."
👉 See also: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
It was a classic Raffy moment. He was joking, but he was also dead serious about his public persona. He’s a guy who values precision. In a world where one mistranslated word about a contract or a slump can turn into a week-long tabloid cycle in Boston, having a professional interpreter like Daveson Pérez or Carlos Villoria-Benítez is basically an insurance policy.
Why the Interpreter Still Matters in 2026
You might think that after over a decade in the professional system—remember, he signed back in 2014—he’d be doing full solo pressers by now. But look at guys like Shohei Ohtani or Ichiro. These guys lived in the States for years and still used interpreters for official business.
Why? Because nuance is everything.
Take the "controversy" in early 2025 when Devers had to address rumors about him potentially moving to first base. That was a tense situation. He used an interpreter to make sure his frustration with the front office was conveyed exactly right. If he had stumbled over a word in English, people might have thought he was being "difficult" or "unclear." By speaking Spanish, he ensured his actual intent—that he views himself as a third baseman, period—wasn't lost in the shuffle.
- Comfort Level: Speaking a second language in a private conversation is easy. Doing it with ten cameras in your face and a transcription service recording your every syllable? That’s a nightmare.
- Media Protection: The Boston media is famous for being... let's call it "intense." One wrong verb tense and suddenly there’s a headline saying Devers wants out.
- Cultural Pride: There’s also something to be said for staying true to your roots. Devers is a hero in the Dominican Republic. Speaking his native tongue keeps that connection alive.
The "Vergonzoso" Factor
A few years ago, Xander Bogaerts actually tried to peer-pressure Raffy into doing more English interviews. Devers admitted something pretty relatable: he’s "vergonzoso." Basically, he's shy. He told reporters (through a translator, ironically) that he gets nervous because he doesn't want to say things wrong and have people make fun of him.
✨ Don't miss: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
It’s a very human side of a guy who looks like a total "monster" at the plate. We see him crushing 450-foot home runs and forget that he’s a person who gets self-conscious about his grammar.
Actually, manager Alex Cora has been one of his biggest defenders here. Cora, who grew up in a Spanish-speaking home in Puerto Rico and had to learn English himself, often speaks about how proud he is of the "great strides" Devers has made. He’s seen Raffy go from a kid who couldn't order a sandwich in English to a veteran who can navigate a complex conversation with the coaching staff without help.
Breaking Down the "Language Barrier" Myth
There's this weird misconception that if a player doesn't speak English in interviews, they aren't "leading" the team. That's total nonsense. Leadership in baseball isn't about giving a polished 30-second soundbite to a reporter. It's about what happens in the dugout.
If you watch Devers during a pitching change, he’s right there in the middle of the huddle. He’s communicating. He’s directing traffic. His teammates have never suggested there’s a communication gap. In fact, most players will tell you that "baseball" is its own language anyway.
Jeff Passan once famously nuked a fan on social media for complaining about Devers' language use, pointing out that Devers is actually quite fluent in English—he just chooses his comfort zone for the public. And honestly? He’s earned that right.
🔗 Read more: Jake Paul Mike Tyson Tattoo: What Most People Get Wrong
What to Look For Next
If you want to see the "real" English-speaking Rafael Devers, stop watching the post-game press conferences. They aren't the place for it. Instead, keep an eye out for:
- Mic'd Up Segments: These are gold. You’ll hear him joking with runners on third base or chatting with the umpire. That’s where his English really shines.
- Teammate Socials: Check out the Instagram stories of the younger Sox players. You’ll often catch Raffy in the background of team flights or dinners, speaking a mix of both languages (often called Spanglish).
- Spring Training Clips: This is usually when players feel the most relaxed. You'll often see Devers doing short, informal English clips for the team's social media accounts.
Ultimately, whether he speaks English perfectly or not doesn't change the fact that his bat does the loudest talking in the building. As long as he's hitting .300 and anchoring the corner, most fans won't care if he brings a translator to the podium for the rest of his career.
Next time you see an interview, just remember: he probably understands the question before the interpreter even opens their mouth. He's just playing it smart.
Actionable Insight: If you're a fan trying to follow Raffy's journey more closely, follow the official Red Sox "La Nación" accounts. They often provide more context on the Spanish-speaking players' personalities and direct translations that capture the "vibe" better than standard sports news outlets.