FORT MYERS, Fla. — Rafael Devers, in spite of a disappointing overall performance in the Planet Baseball Classic from an person and group standpoint, was all smiles upon his return to Red Sox camp on Friday.
Representing the Dominican Republic on the international stage for the initially time is some thing Devers will under no circumstances neglect.
“It was a excellent expertise, a definitely excellent expertise for me,” Devers stated. “I am incredibly satisfied that I had the chance to represent my nation.” The matches have been incredibly, incredibly intense, incredibly motivating for me, and I felt satisfied to be capable to represent my nation.”
The Dominican Republic was favored by a lot of to win the Classic, but as an alternative crashed out of Group D with a two-two record, losing to Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Devers, who served as a cleanup and DH for a group that had Manny Machado at third base, went two-for-16 with two walks and no RBI.
“These factors occur. I can go -for-20 or -for-30,” Devers stated. “That is baseball. For me, I am confident in my capability and what I can do, the factors I can do on the field. I am definitely calm. I do not assume as well considerably about it. It really is not like I was two-for-16 and forgot how to hit or something. That is just what occurred in that tournament. I nevertheless have the similar self-assurance as prior to I left camp. “
If Devers’ overall performance was forgettable, there have been components of the expertise that the left-handed batsman will keep in mind for a extended time. What stood out the most was the electric crowd in Miami.
“There was a point exactly where I could not hear anyone subsequent to me,” Devers stated. “It really is a definitely gorgeous moment for us as players, when you have so a lot of individuals rooting for you and be as loud as they are.”
Watching Machado — an elite defender at third base — go about his business enterprise was definitely a bonus for Devers.
“Of course I discovered a lot from Manny Machado. “He’s one particular of the finest third basemen, if not the finest third baseman, in the game appropriate now,” Devers stated. “Just watching him do his job and play, you discover a lot. It was a incredibly excellent moment for me.”
The moments exactly where he bonded with other stars from his nation was yet another benefit of this expertise.
“It was a excellent expertise to be capable to share the clubhouse with these guys.” [Juan] Soto, with Machado, with Jeremy Peña. These are the guys you’d want to share your club or your group with at any time, and it was a definitely excellent expertise for me,” Devers stated.
Now that he’s back in camp, the Red Sox will need him to get the reps at third base that he missed though backing up Machado. Devers will start out Saturday’s property game at the hot corner against the Orioles. Soon after a day off Sunday when the Red Sox travel to Clearwater to play the Phillies, Devers will play the subsequent 3 days.
“It really is just significant to us that he gets his reps at third base.” It really is incredibly significant,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora stated. “He took ground balls currently [infield instructor] Carlos [Febles] on the back courts. As far as bats go, he’s most likely a lot more ready than any person else right here. The reps at third base — just standing there for 5 or six innings, seven innings — are also significant to his conditioning. Definitely we have him right here now and we’ll make positive he’s prepared for the season.”
Whilst Devers is currently in the postseason in 2018 and ’21. proved he embraces playing on the large stage, the classic was a diverse type of specialty for the 26-year-old.
“It wasn’t the finest for him, but becoming about these guys and speaking to them and the way he talks about these games, the intensity from the initially game to the finish, it really is a excellent finding out expertise,” Cora stated. “It really is enjoyable, and [he] ticked that box. We’ll see what takes place [next World Baseball Classic]but at least he can say that he represented his nation and now he is with us.”