Even those who waited to see it to believe it can sit back and soak it all in now. Rafael Devers is a San Francisco Giant. The Giants made the deal formally official on Tuesday afternoon at Oracle Park, introducing Devers at a very well attended press conference in a cushy club level setup before batting practice.
It was a celebratory vibe, but questions about what went wrong in Boston between the star slugger and the only organization he had ever known. Devers kept it all positive on his end, conveying a message that involved a lot of looking ahead, and a lot of gratitude for where he currently sits.
Devers joins a team that’s enjoyed a strong first two and a half months of the season, but one that also has undeniable holes, one of which has just been concretely sealed with his acquisition. According to Bob Melvin, Devers will bat third tonight and DH. A sold out crowd is expected at Oracle Park to welcome the newest Giant to the Bay Area.
Here’s some sights and sounds from the Rafael Devers introductory press conference, that often resembled more of a party than a presser.
The opening press conference was absolutely packed. And it wasn’t just local media. National baseball reporters, and even some Red Sox reporters, were present. It seemed as though almost everyone employed by the Giants was there, even what seemed like the entire active roster.
Barry Bonds was also a noteworthy attendee. He sat front and center, and almost stole the show just with his presence as he usually does. Even a superstar like Devers was wide-eyed at the sight of the home run king. Devers was asked how he might pick the brain of Bonds, and how he can lean on the legendary slugger for advice in the cages whenever he makes it to the yard.
Devers gracefully deflected any questions regarding his disagreements with the Red Sox front office, stating repeatedly that it was in the past and he’s just excited to move forward with the Giants. That also means he’s willing to play anywhere in the field, something that was decidedly not the case in Boston.
Sure enough, during Giants batting practice, there he was taking ground balls at first base with Dominic Smith.
The dimensions of Oracle Park have long been a hot topic when it comes to attracting power bats, especially left handed power hitters. Devers didn’t elect the Giants in free agency, but as of now he’s here for the long haul. He and Posey had similar answers when asked about the tough dimensions, alluding to Bonds’ lucrative success at the yard. Bottom line, good hitters will hit, and adjust, to whatever they need to do. And in the short and sweet words of Dave Flemming, “he’s a dude.”
When Devers finally hit the top step for batting practice, it really started to feel real. Even in the black purple and orange city connects that don’t quite satiate the traditional fan, watching Devers take hacks on the field was enough to bring a tear to the eye.