If you've spent any time watching the Boston Red Sox over the last decade, you know the vibe when a sharp grounder screams toward the hot corner. You hold your breath. It’s the "Raffy Experience." Rafael Devers at third base is, quite honestly, one of the most polarizing defensive studies in modern baseball history. One minute he’s diving into the dirt to snag a 110-mph rocket, and the next, he’s airmailing a routine throw into the first-row seats.
It’s a wild ride.
But here is the thing that most people get wrong: they think he’s just "bad" at defense. The reality is way more complicated than a simple error total. If you look at the 2024 and 2025 seasons—especially before that shocking mid-June trade that sent him to the San Francisco Giants—the data tells a story of a guy who actually fixed his range but couldn't quite conquer the "routine" yips.
The Error King or Just Bad Luck?
Let's address the elephant in the room. Rafael Devers led all MLB third basemen in errors for seven straight years (2018–2024). That is a staggering stat. Honestly, it’s historical. You have to go back to the early 1900s to find streaks that look like that.
But why?
It’s not because he’s slow. Surprisingly, Devers has actually had seasons where his range—his ability to get to balls—was elite. Take 2019, for instance. His Outs Above Average (OAA) was actually among the best in the league. He was right there with guys like Matt Chapman.
Then 2020 happened. He regressed. Hard.
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The issue with Devers has always been the "mental snowball." Former Sox manager Ron Roenicke used to talk about how Raffy would let one mistake become three. He’s a perfectionist who wears his heart on his sleeve. When he boots a ball, you can see the frustration on his face from the moon. That’s when the throwing errors start.
What the 2025 Move Changed
By the time 2025 rolled around, the Red Sox were at a crossroads. Devers was still hitting like a monster—belting 35 home runs and driving in 109 across his time with Boston and San Francisco—but the defensive liability was becoming a payroll headache.
The trade to the Giants changed the scenery, but not necessarily the glove. In the National League, he split time between third and DH. It’s the natural evolution of a guy who is 6'0" and 235 pounds.
Breaking Down the Numbers
If you want to understand his value, you can't just look at fielding percentage. That’s an old-school way of thinking. You have to look at the trade-offs:
- The Power Peak: Even while struggling in the field, Devers joined legends like Ted Williams and Jim Rice as one of the few Red Sox to hit 30+ homers in three seasons before age 27.
- The Error Streak: 2018 to 2024. Seven years. It’s a record nobody wants, but it proves the team valued his bat so much they were willing to eat the defensive runs he gave up.
- The Statcast Reality: His hard-hit rate in 2024 was in the 95th percentile. When you hit the ball that hard, you get a lot of leeway at third base.
The "DH" Inevitability
Basically, everyone knew this was coming. You can only play a high-error third base for so long before the knees or the front office give out. The Red Sox's decision to move on and eventually pursue guys like Alex Bregman (even if that didn't go as planned for them) was a signal that the Rafael Devers third base era was ending.
He’s now 29.
In baseball years, that's when the "hot corner" starts to feel a lot hotter. The reactions slow down just a millisecond. For a guy who already struggled with consistency, that millisecond is everything.
Why We Still Love the Glove (Sometimes)
There is something deeply human about the way Raffy plays the field. He isn't a robot like Nolan Arenado. He makes mistakes. He gets "scoops" that look impossible and then fumbles a slow roller.
But here’s the actionable insight for fans and fantasy managers looking at his 2026 outlook: The position change is his best friend.
By moving primarily to DH or a "part-time" third base role, his offensive ceiling actually gets higher. He doesn't have to carry the mental weight of a three-error game into his next at-bat. We saw flashes of this in late 2025 with the Giants. His OBP jumped to .372, partly because he was more focused at the plate.
What's Next for the Hot Corner?
If you're following the Red Sox in 2026, the third base hole is cavernous. Trading Devers was a salary dump, sure, but it was also a defensive white flag. The team is now looking at options like Ceddanne Rafaela or external free agents to patch a spot that Devers occupied for nearly a decade.
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For Devers himself, the path is clear:
- Embrace the DH life: His bat is a Hall of Fame trajectory tool. Protecting his legs will keep that bat in the lineup until he's 40.
- Selective Fielding: Using him at third only in specific matchups or late-game scenarios where his arm (which is actually quite strong) can be an asset without the "total chance" volume.
- Legacy: He'll be remembered as a Red Sox great, but his defensive stats will always be the "yeah, but" of his career.
Stop expecting him to become a Gold Glover. It’s not going to happen. Instead, appreciate the fact that he was a generational offensive talent who played a grueling defensive position for much longer than most scouts ever thought he would.
The Rafael Devers third base era was chaotic, frustrating, and occasionally brilliant. It was never boring. And in a game that can sometimes feel like a math equation, that's worth something.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Monitor 2026 Eligibility: If you're in a fantasy league, check if Devers retains 3B eligibility after his 2025 split; he's likely to lose it by 2027.
- Watch the Giants' Infield Depth: San Francisco's use of Devers will be a blueprint for how "aging" power hitters transition out of the infield.
- Value the Bat: When evaluating his trade value or legacy, prioritize his 140 OPS+ over his error count; the former wins games, the latter just makes the highlights.