Why Rafael Devers is participating in infield practice despite staying at DH

Alex Cora has insisted over and over again that Rafael Devers will not play the field in 2025, keeping him as the Red Sox’ primary designated hitter for the entirety of the season.

However, Devers has been seen taking ground balls ahead of most games recently, even taking some at shortstop. While that has led to some speculation that Devers could return to third base or start playing first base this season, Cora insisted again that it doesn’t mean he’ll be playing in the infield in 2025.

“We talk, but he’s my DH,” Cora told reporters when asked about Devers taking ground balls. ”Let’s leave it at that.”

As Cora shut down talk of Devers playing in the infield this season, Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy helped play into the speculation earlier in the week that the All-Star could have the glove on again soon.

“We know that when the time is right and we need him, he’ll be there,” Kennedy told NESN’s Tom Caron on Wednesday.

Devers’s position has arguably been the biggest storyline surrounding the Red Sox’ 2025 season. He was defiant that he wouldn’t move off third base at the start of spring training after the team signed Alex Bregman. He eventually softened that stance, accepting the designated hitter’s role.

When Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury in early May, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow floated Devers as a possibility to play first base. But Devers took a defiant approach again about not wanting to change positions, which caused owner John Henry to fly and meet with him, along with Cora, during a road trip in Kansas City.

Talk of Devers returning to the field returned again in late May when Bregman suffered a right quad strain. Even though Devers had previously been the team’s primary third baseman from 2018-24, Cora immediately shut down talk of him returning to the position in Bregman’s absence.

Still, Devers has been a part of the team’s infield practice as of late. But Cora said it had more to do with his “conditioning program” than anything, restarting his infield work as he reportedly dealt with a groin issue recently.

“He didn’t do it there for a while,” Cora said. “There were a few things going on. Now that he’s feeling good, just go out there and take grounders.”

Cora acknowledged that there could always be an emergency situation that could lead Devers to make his way back on the field.

“The fact he’s throwing, that’s important, too,” Cora said. “Obviously, if something happens, we’ve got to get this [his throwing] going. I’m happy he’s out there moving and feeling good. He’s feeling good.”

As of now, the Red Sox have been able to weather the storm of injuries they’ve had at the corner infield positions. Abraham Toro, who has primarily played first base, has been sort of a revelation. He’s hitting .316 with a .891 OPS and five homers in 28 games entering Sunday. Romy Gonzalez and Marcelo Mayer hae also been a part of the equation at the corner infield spots, with the former hitting .318 this season and the latter hitting three homers in his first 17 big league games.

Devers has largely held things down at the plate, too. He’s hitting .271 with 14 homers, 57 RBIs, and a .894 OPS in his first full season as the team’s designated hitter. His numbers are even better since May 1, hitting .309 with nine homers, 38 RBIs, and a .981 OPS over the last 40 games entering Sunday.