OAKLAND, Calif. — Manager Alex Cora recently insinuated that Rafael Devers received unfair criticism over his 2023 season.
“He had a disappointing season last year. He hit 30 and drove in 100, but that’s not enough for some people,” Cora said after Devers homered in Boston’s season opener Thursday.
Devers finished 2023 with 33 home runs, 34 doubles, 100 RBIs, 90 runs, a .271 batting average, .351 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage and .851 OPS in 153 games (656 plate appearances). His WAR dropped from his previous three full seasons. He posted a 3.1 fWAR, a dip from 4.8 in 2022, 4.2 in 2021 and 6.7 in 2019.
Devers admitted last October that he felt unsatisfied with his season and could “give much more.” But does Devers think some people, even this reporter, unfairly criticized his 2023 season?
“People like you don’t know what’s going on off the field,” Devers said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez before Monday’s game at Oakland Coliseum. “And there’s always people like you who are going to criticize me. And yeah, that’s it.”
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Devers experienced some tough stretches last season after he signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension in January 2023. He posted a .293 on-base percentage, .421 slugging percentage, .714 OPS, three walks and 21 strikeouts in 24 games (99 plate appearances) in May. But by the end of the season, his stats weren’t much different than a typical year for him. His .851 OPS was only two points below his career OPS.
How should a grueling 162-game season be evaluated? Should bad months or lengthy stretches be scrutinized? Should the season be evaluated simply in its entirety?
“To be honest, I don’t care how you guys see me during the year,” Devers said. “No matter what happens, the criticism is just going to be there. So for me, I don’t pay attention to that. And I don’t pay attention to much of what you guys do. That’s your job to make a decision whether you guys want to see it as a full season or month by month.”
Could it be considered a good thing that some people viewed his 2023 season as a disappointment despite him crushing 33 homers and driving in 100 RBIs? Such high expectations means he’s viewed as one of the game’s elite hitters.
“Last year was good. I don’t have anything else to say about last year,” said Devers, adding he’s focused on this year.
Devers received praise during spring training by being vocal that the Red Sox should add more to the roster. It showed he was warming to the role of team leader. Asked if he’s glad people appreciated it, Devers didn’t want to get into it too much.
“What I said in spring training is already done with,” Devers said. “We’re in the regular season. I don’t want to have any distractions or anything like that during the regular season. I already spoke about it. That’s all I have to say.”
Teammate Brayan Bello said his goal in 2024 is to win 17 to 20 games. Does Devers have a specific goal in mind for this season?
“I never put those kinds of goals on myself,” Devers said. “The only thing I ask God is just to keep me healthy. I know the talent that I have. I know if I’m healthy the whole season, everything is going to be OK.”
The 27-year-old’s 2023 stats eventually evened out because he began walking more. He walked 51 times in 434 plate appearances (11.8% walk percentage) over his final 101 games after walking just three times in 99 plate appearances (3% walk percentage) during May.
“Walks are part of the game,” he said. “That will come with time. That’s not going to take away my aggressiveness at the plate.”
