The Boston Red Sox’s 11-7 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday night came with some drama surrounding star third baseman Rafael Devers.
During the sixth inning, Devers hit a slow grounder to Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu, who threw him out at first to end the inning, stranding two runners. Notably, Devers slowed down considerably before reaching first base, even though there was a slim chance he could’ve beaten the throw. ESPN cameras later caught Devers and manager Alex Cora exchanging words in the dugout.
According to MassLive’s Christopher Smith, Devers’ slow run wasn’t due to a lack of effort. He stayed in the game and later hit a home run to widen the Red Sox’s lead.
While Cora brushed off any injury concerns, speculation persists. Observers have noticed Devers favoring his left leg recently, suggesting he may be dealing with a physical issue. Devers has a history of playing through injuries most recently a shoulder problem that impacted much of his 2023 season.
If Devers ends up needing time off, Masataka Yoshida could be an option to step in, though he’s still recovering from a shoulder injury himself. Another possibility is top prospect Roman Anthony. For now, the team seems to be monitoring the situation closely.
The Red Sox return to Fenway Park to face the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
