TORONTO — Before Monday’s game, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he didn’t think star third baseman Rafael Devers would participate in this year’s Home Run Derby if asked. A day later, Devers confirmed that’s the case.
If asked, Devers — who is on track to make the All-Star team for the third time in his career — will decline the invitation.
“It’s not something I have on my mind that I want to do in my career,” Devers said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez.
The Red Sox have not had a player participate in the Derby since 2011, when both Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz did it. Gonzalez finished twice that year. Ortiz won in 2010 in Anaheim and also competed in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The last Boston participant before him was Carl Everett in 2000.
Devers said he has never been asked to participate. Cora said that despite none of his players ever participating, he’s not urging them to say no if invited.
“If they want to do it, they’ll do it,” Cora said.
Devers seems like a sure bet to represent the Red Sox at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on July 16, as he entered play Tuesday hitting .282 with 14 homers, 38 RBIs and a .929 OPS in 61 games. He ranks fifth in the American League in both OPS and slugging percentage (.555) and leads all third basemen in slugging, OPS and wRC+ (151). Devers has been an All-Star twice before, in 2021 and 2022.
In MLB’s first All-Star voting update, Devers had received the third-most votes among AL third baseman, behind Cleveland’s José Ramírez and Baltimore’s Jordan Westburg. It’s more likely he’s elected as a reserve.
“It would be great,” he said. “Everybody in the big leagues wants to be in the All-Star Game. Texas is one of the best ballparks, too. It would be very nice to be able to go.”
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