Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers has been leading the franchise’s lineup for a few years now.
He was the everyday third baseman on the 2018 team that won the World Series, but he hadn’t broken out at that point yet.
That breakthrough came in 2019, when he slashed .311/.361/.555 with 32 home runs, 129 runs, and 115 RBI.
Ever since that moment, he has been one of the most consistent producers in Boston, and has become a fan favorite because of his big smile and loud hits.
Little by little, he is making a name for himself and is starting to reach a performance level that has him in the same conversation as other Dominican stars.
The Dominican Republic has produced some of the most prolific hitters in the game: Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero (Sr. and Jr.) and most recently Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto, just to name a few.
By combining youth with excellent on-field production, however, Devers has some really good company in the power department.
“Joining a list of Dominican greats,” the Red Sox tweeted, with a curious list: most home runs by a Dominican hitter before turning 26.
Joining a list of Dominican greats. 🇩🇴 pic.twitter.com/cSE37z0Ar1
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 20, 2022
Quietly Productive
As you probably imagined, Albert Pujols leads the list with 201 round-trippers.
The great Adrian Beltre, one of the best defensive third baseman to play in recent memory, is second on the list with 147 homers.
Devers is third, at 138.
He will turn 26 during the postseason, so he still has a bunch of games to augment that tally, getting closer and closer to Beltre.
This season has been fruitful for Devers, despite a cold spell in the second half.
As a whole, he is slashing .292/.351/.527 with 26 dingers, and was the American League’s starter in the All-Star Game.
Too bad he won’t get to play in the postseason.
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