Why Boston Red Sox pushed Rafael Devers' spring training debut

Rafael Devers' spring training debut will have to wait a little longer.

Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)AP

The Boston Red Sox third baseman was supposed to be in the lineup on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays but he still needs more time.

“He asked me for more live BPs, so we’ll be good with that,” manager Alex Cora told reporters, per MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “We’ll see where we are over the weekend, but timing-wise, he’s off. I’m not worried about him.”

Devers, who showed up to camp on time, spent the first few weeks strengthening his shoulders. He experienced soreness in both of them last season but still hit .272 with 28 home runs and 83 RBI.

It’s unclear where Devers will be play once he makes his debut. The Red Sox signed Alex Bregman — who won a Gold Glove at third base in 2024 — last month. While he can play shortstop and second base, Cora has not made any decisions about who will play where.

Devers made it clear earlier in camp that he didn’t want to move off third base to be the designated hitter. Despite his defensive struggles, Devers' time at third has never really been threatened. Bringing in a player like Bregman certainly does that, but the former Houston Astros infielder said he’ll play wherever as long as it means helping the team win.