The two most talked-about players of Red Sox camp are about to take big steps forward in their spring training progressions.
Rafael Devers took strides toward seeing game action Saturday in Fort Myers. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)Boston Globe via Getty Images
Alex Bregman is set to make his Red Sox spring debut Sunday at JetBlue Park as the starting third baseman behind fellow newcomer Garrett Crochet, who will pitch two innings against the Blue Jays. Simultaneously, Rafael Devers is making strides toward getting in game action. Devers, who has been slow to ramp up after using the offseason to rehab soreness in both shoulders, took batting practice outside Saturday and is about to encounter a full battery of baseball activities.
“He’s hitting off the Trajekt (pitching machine), which is great,” said manager Alex Cora. “Today is the first day on the field. We had live BPs, he’s probably tracking there. He’ll let us know.
“Hook grounders this morning with Flo (infield coach José Flores),” Cora added. “Threw to first base. He’s getting there. But not 100%.”
Cora isn’t sure when Devers will get into Grapefruit League action. The Red Sox are letting him go at his own pace after his 2024 season was cut short by the shoulder issue.
Devers made headlines Monday when he repeatedly — and adamantly — stated that he was unwilling to move off third base to accommodate Bregman. The Red Sox are considering starting their big free agent signee at second base but also might play him at third to accommodate a younger second baseman like Kristian Campbell. That scenario would involve Devers going to designated hitter, something he said, in certain terms, that he’s unwilling to do.
The infield alignment will be determined by how Campbell and other young infielders like David Hamilton and Vaughn Grissom play during spring training, not how Devers or Bregman play. Still, it’s notable that Bregman will get reps at third base in his first taste of spring action.
Bregman will be joined on the field by shortstop Trevor Story, first baseman Triston Casas and outfielders Ceddanne Rafaela (who homered Saturday) and Rob Refsnyder on Sunday.
