Rafael Devers Makes Successful First Base Debut for Giants After Positional Dispute with Red Sox

San Francisco Giants slugger Rafael Devers made his highly anticipated first career MLB start at first base on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, batting third, and contributed significantly with a 2-for-5 performance including two runs and an RBI in a 9-0 victory. This debut marks a notable shift for Devers, who had previously declined to play first base for the Boston Red Sox despite a team need, a positional dispute that contributed to his trade to the Giants in June 2023 after he told Boston that they 'can't expect me to play every single position out there.' Devers expressed that playing in the field, rather than serving as a designated hitter, keeps him more active and positively impacts his offensive game, a sentiment supported by his career OPS splits; he had proactively ordered a first baseman's glove upon arriving in San Francisco and had been actively doing fielding work. Despite struggling with a .219 average in 29 games as a DH for the Giants prior to this outing, Devers (a three-time All-Star with a career .277 average and 217 homers) found immediate success in his new defensive role. Manager Bob Melvin indicated he would return to designated hitter on Wednesday.