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Red Sox Star Finding Form In 2024

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Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers had a slow start to 2024. But now, the Red Sox star has found his form. Yet again, Devers is one of the best hitters in baseball.

Red Sox Star Finding Form In 2024

Fighting through struggles and injuries, Devers has flipped his season upside down. As of May 19, the infielder has smacked a home run in five consecutive games, the longest streak of his career. And, with Boston looking for its first playoff appearance since 2021, the club will lean on him heavily as the season progresses. If Devers continues producing like he has the past month, the Red Sox should be in postseason contention come September.

Devers’ Early Struggles And Injuries

It’s hard to beat around the bush when looking at Rafael Devers’ first 13 games of 2024. He came into the season trying to build off his .271/.351/.851 batting splits in 2023.  It didn’t seem like that would happen by mid-April, though. Through his first dozen or so games, Devers was batting .188 and had just one multi-hit contest. Unfortunately for Raffy and Boston, that wasn’t even the most glaring issue with Devers’ game.

After Boston’s 6-4 win over Seattle in the season opener, Devers missed the next two games due to shoulder soreness. It continued to be an issue, with Rafael playing through an impacted shoulder and missing four more games in early April. Then, just a week after his shoulder flaring up, Devers suffered a bone bruise in his left knee. He missed five matchups but avoided a trip to the IL. In the first four weeks of the season, the third baseman had already injured two separate body parts. By April 24, Devers had missed nearly half of the Red Sox’s first 25 games.

Devers returned from a third stint out of the lineup on April 24. He was one of multiple Boston hitters to miss games due to injury.

Rafael Devers Heats Up In Style

When Devers found a spot back into Boston’s starting nine on April 24, he immediately made an impact. The Dominican Republic native went 3-4 with a homer, double, and two RBI. The next day, he again had three hits. Already, Devers’ batting average soared above .260.

Those two contests were the beginning of a nine-game hitting streak for the star. During the stretch, Devers batted over .468. By May 3, his season average reached .300.

While that took a dip over the next week or so, Devers embarked on a demolition tour that is still continuing as of May 19. On May 15, he hit his fifth bomb of the year. Four days later, he had nine. Five straight matchups with a home run, the longest current streak by any active player. His current stretch also tied a Red Sox record for consecutive homers. Seven RBI, six hits, six runs, and five bombs in five days.

 

After having an average under .200 in mid-April, Devers is now slashing .285/.384/.938 in 35 games. Obviously, health is the big question. But it’s probably safe to say that the Red Sox star has found his form.

 

Red Sox Hitters Finding Form in 2024

Devers’ recent resurgence has been extremely impressive, but he isn’t the only Boston hitter that is making noise. He’s one of four active Red Sox with an OPS above .900, joining Connor Wong, Tyler O’Neill, and Rob Refsnyder. And despite an under-.500 record, the top of Boston’s lineup is doing its job.

Main Photo Credits: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

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