MLB Players Power Rankings (1): Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
Week-20 Stats: 1.185 SLG | 0.720 wOBA | 365 wRC+ | 1.1 fWAR
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
The Boston Red Sox entered the 2019 season looking to defend their 2018 World Series championship. Unfortunately, through five months of the season, the Sox have underwhelmed… extremely.
Sitting 16 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East and 6.5 games behind the 2nd Wild Card, the chances of a postseason berth are very bleak at the moment. This is due in part to the fact that players like Chris Sale, Mookie Betts, and the bullpen haven’t quite lived up to the level of play from last season.
On the other hand, players like Rafael Devers have emerged in a big way and are doing everything in their power to keep the 2018 World Series champs relevant. In fact, this season Devers is posting career highs in home runs (27), AVG (.332), OBP (.380), and SLG (.596). What’s more, he leads the league in hits (167), doubles (46), RBI (101) and Total Bases (300).
To top it off, Devers has also drastically improved his defensive play. Increasing his DRS from -16 last season to -2 this season.
His 5.5 fWAR, is tied with Ketel Marte and Alex Bregman for the fifth-highest in MLB, sitting behind the likes of Mike Trout (8.3), Cody Bellinger (6.8), Christian Yelich (6.5), and teammate Xander Bogaerts (5.6).
The Red Sox may not make the postseason this year, but fans will be looking forward to an MVP race for the ages. Can Rafael Devers be the second consecutive AL MVP award winner from the Boston Red Sox?