Red Sox's Rafael Devers: Declines to play first base
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Devers said Thursday that he declined a request from team management to play first base, Ken Powtak of MLB.com reports. "They had the conversation with me," Devers said through a team interpreter. "I don't think, for me personally, it's the best decision after they asked me to play a different position."
Alex Cora had previously indicated he wasn't even going to ask Devers if he would be willing to move from designated hitter to first base, and instead, the manager allowed Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to make the request. After a slow start to the season, Devers has been locked in at the plate since late April, going 18-for-47 with four home runs, four doubles, 11 RBI and eight runs scored over the last 12 games. Devers' insistence on not switching positions leaves Boston without a clear starter at first base in the wake of a season-ending knee injury to Triston Casas.
